Alexander Volkanovski, the two-time UFC featherweight champion, could have seen his MMA career take a very different path. Returning to the Octagon this Saturday, Volkanovski is not only one of the promotion’s elite competitors but also a leading candidate in discussions about the greatest featherweight ever.
However, his rise to stardom almost ended abruptly after securing his first title shot. Seven years before his upcoming rematch against Diego Lopez at UFC 325, the Australian fighter’s major breakthrough came with a near-career-ending health scare.
Back in 2019, shortly after a flawless 6-0 run in the UFC, Volkanovski faced the division’s top legend, Jose Aldo, at UFC 237 in Rio de Janeiro. He handed Aldo a unanimous decision loss, spoiling the Brazilian’s return after two years away from the cage. This victory paved the way for Volkanovski’s shot at Max Holloway, but not before battling a serious physical ordeal.
On his flight back from Brazil, Volkanovski was hospitalized due to a severe blood infection. Later recounting the incident to ESPN, he revealed the situation was so critical he might have lost his leg—or even his life—if not for timely medical intervention during a layover in Chile. His antibiotics initially failed, and the infection’s proximity to bone and tendon was especially alarming.
“I was very lucky the plane stopped in Chile,” Volkanovski explained. “Had I been on the next flight, the damage might have been irreversible, and I could have lost my leg or died.”
Looking ahead to UFC 325, Volkanovski has the chance to further cement his legacy by tying Jose Aldo’s record for the most featherweight title defenses in UFC history. Currently holding seven defenses, he needs just one more to match Aldo’s legendary mark — a feat that could sway the ongoing debate over the greatest featherweight of all time.
Fan Take: This story highlights not only Volkanovski’s resilience but also the fine line fighters walk between triumph and tragedy. For fight fans, his ability to overcome life-threatening obstacles to chase greatness adds a compelling layer to his legacy and raises the stakes for UFC’s featherweight division in the years to come.
