Alexander Volkanovski is gearing up for his return at UFC 314 after a much-needed 14-month break. But according to his teammate Dan Hooker, his previous losses had less to do with his opponents and more to do with the toll back-to-back fights took on his body.
Volkanovski suffered two consecutive knockout losses in late 2023 and early 2024—first to Islam Makhachev in a short-notice rematch, then to Ilia Topuria four months later. Hooker believes those rapid turnarounds were the real reason for Volk’s struggles inside the Octagon.
Did Topuria Really Beat ‘The Great’—Or Did Timing?
Dan Hooker isn’t convinced that Ilia Topuria’s win over Volkanovski was as groundbreaking as people think. Instead, he suggests that Volkanovski simply wasn’t at 100% after rushing into another fight so soon after being knocked out by Makhachev.
“I feel like he just turned around too quickly from the Islam Makhachev fight,” Hooker told Sky Sports NZ. “I don’t think Ilia Topuria did anything that incredible. I feel like he just fought [too soon].”
Hooker has been in a similar situation himself. After grueling battles against Paul Felder and Dustin Poirier, he quickly accepted a fight against Michael Chandler—and it didn’t go well for him. Looking back, he knows that taking time to recover is crucial.
“You need to learn that as a veteran fighter,” Hooker said. “And there’s only one way to learn it, and that’s the hard way.”
The Toll of Championship-Level Fights
Volkanovski has been one of the most active champions in the UFC, constantly taking on the toughest challenges. But Hooker thinks that his relentless schedule finally caught up with him.
“The body can only take so much punishment before it needs time to fully recover,” Hooker explained. “Especially if you’re fighting these five-round fights, you need to put a good amount of recovery time between them.”
As a champion, Volkanovski was always stepping up, sometimes on short notice. But Hooker believes that consistency came at a cost. “He just needed a bit more time between these fights to let his body fully recover.”
Volkanovski has never been one to back down from a challenge, and his warrior mentality has made him a fan favorite. But Hooker warns that even the toughest fighters need time to heal. “At the end of the day, we’re all human. It doesn’t matter how tough you are—if you’re not giving yourself enough time to recover, it’s going to catch up with you.”
The Science Behind Recovery and Performance
Fighters who take severe damage in fights, especially knockout losses, often experience a decline in performance if they return too soon. Medical experts warn that the brain and body need sufficient time to heal after a knockout, and stepping back into the Octagon too quickly increases the risk of further damage.
Studies have shown that repeat head trauma in a short period can have lasting effects on a fighter’s durability. This could explain why Volkanovski, who was once considered nearly impossible to finish, suffered consecutive knockout losses in such a short span. Fighters like Tony Ferguson and Cody Garbrandt also experienced rapid declines after not allowing enough recovery time between fights.
Hooker’s argument isn’t just an excuse—it’s backed by science and history.
Volkanovski’s Next Challenge: Can He Defy the Odds?
Volkanovski is now set to fight Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title at UFC 314. And despite learning from past mistakes, he’s already planning to clear out the division by the end of 2025, with names like Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and Movsar Evloev on his radar.
But first, he has to get past Lopes—a dangerous opponent. And history isn’t on his side. Fighters over the age of 35 have a 2-30 record in title fights below middleweight. At 36, Volkanovski is facing an uphill battle.
The Australian is determined to prove he still belongs at the top, but will his body allow him to? If he wins, it will be one of the greatest comeback stories in UFC history. If he loses, questions will arise about whether his best days are behind him.
Can he prove that he still belongs at the top? We’ll find out on April 12 in Miami, Florida.
