UFC featherweight contender Alexander Volkanovski was fresh off of the biggest win of his career when he topped former champion Jose Aldo via unanimous decision on the pay-per-view main card of UFC 237 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, May 11. Unfortunately, his celebration was cut short after being hospitalized on his way back to Australia.
According to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Volkanovski was hospitalized in Santiago, Chile during a layover due to a blood infection.
During his trip home on Monday, Volkanovski had complained of “sore feet, redness of his left foot and feeling sick.” It was at that point that he was taken from the airport and hospitalized.
The good news, however, is that Volkanovski is in good spirits despite the health scare.
“Hey all, Alex is ok. He is being treated for an infection that developed quickly while on our flight home,” his manager Rhys Dal Cin wrote in a statement on social media. “We are currently in Chile and will provide updates as they come to hand. The medical staff have been fantastic, he’s in good hands, and Alex is in good spirits.”
News of Volkanovski’s hospitalization comes after the announcement that Max Holloway would be defending his featherweight championship against Frankie Edgar at UFC 240. Many thought Volkanovski would be next in line at 145-pounds, but Edgar moved back into the driver’s seat and will now have his chance at another UFC.
While Holloway and Edgar wait for their upcoming bout, it will allow Volkanovski to full recover while he waits for his eventual shot at gold; which will likely be later this year against the Holloway vs. Edgar winner.
We would like to wish Volkanovski a full and speedy recovery.
