Alexander Volkanovski talks struggles with alcohol ahead of recent Islam Makhachev loss

During his last outing, Alexander Volkanovski saw his second chance at securing lightweight gold go to waste and he subsequently lost the #1 pound-for-pound spot. Many questioned why the dominant featherweight took the short-notice fight against Islam Makhachev, but we may now have an answer.

At UFC 294, the Australian boldly accepted a fight against the surging Makhachev on just 11 days’ notice after the champion’s original opponent was forced to withdraw. There was intrigue from fans as to how he would perform without a full training camp but midway through the first round, the challenger suffered his first knockout defeat inside the octagon.

While sitting down with David Adesanya—the brother of former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya—Alexander Volkanovski opened up on his most recent loss.

“It’s always going to hurt. Losing’s not fun, you know what I mean? I’m never scared of getting hurt or anything like that, you’re scared of losing.”

“Even though I love challenging myself, even if it’s 11 days notice and put myself in a position where the chances of losing are much higher, I’m still going to do that. That’s just who I am.”

“Even with the fear of losing. But that’s just who I am, that’s what’s made me the guy I am, the champion I am. You know, always challenging myself. I challenge myself in the gym every day.”

Related: Ilia Topuria: ‘I’m going to beat Volkanovski and then fight Max Holloway’

Volkanovski later revealed a worrying truth about his actions in the lead-up to his rematch against the Russian. 

“I wasn’t disciplined. I’m known for being disciplined [and] professional, all year round. 24/7. And I just wasn’t that time.”

“I was drinking every day, for like three [or] four weeks… That’s unheard of for me. Like, every day, I’ve never ever done that. I wasn’t training too much. Obviously, surgery and just trying to help out in the house, I’m like, ‘Oh, I may as well have a couple drinks, you know, they’ll go down good.'”

“Obviously trying to be the best dad I could be, as well. Little pressures that everyone goes through and a little uneasy and the drinking was helping. I just wasn’t happy with where I was.”

Listen to Alexander Volkanovski discuss his alcohol problem and more in the video below.