It is no secret that UFC fighters are rarely 100% healthy when they step into the Octagon. A few niggles, strains, or hidden injuries are part of the game. However, competing in a title fight at 38 while battling an illness and still putting on a dominant performance is something else entirely.
That is exactly what Alexander Volkanovski did at UFC 333. The Australian defeated previously undefeated Movsar Evloev via a second-round finish to defend his featherweight title. But what made the victory even more impressive was what Volk had been dealing with in the days leading up to the fight.
The 38-year-old was battling a head cold, flu symptoms, and a chest infection during fight week in Abu Dhabi. He reportedly had a croaky voice, heavy breathing, and chest congestion. Things got so bad that his coach and several other members of his camp, who were staying in the same villa, also fell ill. Despite all that, Volk refused to take medication, believing it could give him an advantage over Evloev.
While many fans were shocked by his decision to fight through the illness, his fellow Aussie Cody Thicknesse wasn’t surprised. According to the UFC fighter, a bout of flu was nothing compared to what the 145lbs champion had endured before previous fights.
Cody Thicknesse Reveals Alexander Volkanovski Has Fought Through Far Worse Than the Flu
After UFC 333, BJJ legend Craig Jones also revealed that Volkanovski had been sick during fight week. Jones shared a picture of the champion holding his featherweight title on social media, captioning it, “flu game @alexandervolkanovski.”
Volkanovski confirmed at the UFC 333 post-fight press conference that he wasn’t feeling 100% going into the bout. MMA reporter Oscar Willis also revealed that the Aussie had refused to take even ibuprofen.
🚨 Alexander Volkanovski reveals he was sick when he fought Movsar Evloev today 🤒
“It’s all good, it’s a part of the game. I started getting sick, I was like ‘it would’ve been too easy if I wasn’t sick.’
No matter what hurdles are in front of me, this sh*t excites me.” https://t.co/zUHBaAqSv2
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 24, 2026
However, Thicknesse explained that Volk had fought through much worse in the past, including a nasty staph infection ahead of his first fight against Diego Lopes at UFC 314 in Miami.
He revealed, “It’s part of the game. There’s always something going on. I have seen him go through like worse things while being sick for a fight. He doesn’t like mention it, but when he beat Diego Lopes in Miami, he had two staphs. Like, one in his armpit and his nose.”
The Aussie added, “So the flu is like nothing for this dude. He’s just a freak, and he got Movsar out of there inside two rounds, which is just crazy.”
Volk teammate Colby Thicknesse explains why no one was phased by Volk fighting sick and the champ doubled down by saying overcoming those odds motivates him 👍🤒 #UFC333 #HelwaniShow https://t.co/BF5foMFFa1
— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) October 28, 2026
Staph infections can be particularly dangerous for UFC fighters, potentially affecting their conditioning, recovery, and ability to compete. Depending on the severity of the infection and its treatment, an athlete may also experience fatigue and other complications that can make preparing for a fight much harder.
Benoit Saint-Denis is one example of how badly an infection can affect a fighter. The Frenchman reportedly contracted a staph infection on his forehead before UFC 299 against Dustin Poirier, and his subsequent health issues and treatment were linked to significant conditioning problems. After dominating the opening round on adrenaline, he faded badly and suffered a second-round knockout loss.
In more serious cases, staph infections can force fighters to withdraw from major bouts altogether. Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was forced out of his scheduled title defense against Luke Rockhold at UFC 221 after a severe staph infection in his stomach. The infection became life-threatening and required urgent medical attention.
Considering what Volkanovski has reportedly endured in the past, his performance against Evloev becomes even more remarkable. Fighting through flu symptoms is no small feat, especially at 38, when he had a featherweight title on the line against an undefeated challenger.
And if Thicknesse’s account of the champion’s previous battles with staph infections is anything to go by, the flu was never going to be enough to keep “The Great” down.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
