{
  "id": 16429235,
  "title": "Alexander Volkanovski says he was sick at UFC 333: 'Too easy' otherwise",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/alexander-volkanovski-says-he-was-sick-at-ufc-333-too-easy-otherwise",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-25T04:18:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/alexander-volkanovski-says-sick-ufc-041857042.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alexander Volkanovski, the Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion, stopped unbeaten opponent Movsar Evloev in the second round of their UFC 333 bout on Saturday. The Australian fighter explained that he was feeling unwell leading up to the match, but used that adversity to his advantage, delivering a decisive finish to secure his seventh successful title defense.\n\nVolkanovski, known as \"The Great,\" emphasized that while winning the championship feels gratifying, overcoming challenges is what truly excites him. He highlighted the numerous obstacles athletes face in their careers, from grueling training camps to unexpected setbacks, and expressed his enthusiasm for tackling these hurdles head-on. After the fight, Volkanovski stated that being ill entering the ring was just another challenge he embraced, adding that it would have been too easy had he not been sick.\n\nThe champion's mindset and skills are evident in his ability to take down even the toughest opponents, as demonstrated by his victory over Evloev. Volkanovski's win marks the first time anyone has defeated Movsar Evloev to retain his championship title at UFC 333.",
  "summary": "For Alexander Volkanovski, overcoming adversity means more than championship gold.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}