TLDR
- Volkanovski’s teammate passed out during an assault bike challenge at the gym, prompting concern from the champion
- The incident occurred during the team’s traditional challenge designed to test newcomers to their limits
- Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title against undefeated Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on October 24
- The champion believes he can finish Evloev and produce one of the best performances of his career
- Evloev has won all 10 UFC fights by decision and remains undefeated at 20-0
Sources: yardbarker.com | themaclife.com | sports.yahoo.com
A training partner of UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski collapsed during a brutal workout session at the team’s gym, bringing the intense challenge to an immediate halt.
The incident happened during what Volkanovski’s team calls the ‘Team Challenge,’ a demanding test designed to push new members to their absolute limits. The teammate passed out while working on an assault bike during the session.
Volkanovski shared video of the moment on his YouTube channel, showing his reaction to the frightening situation. “Did he pass out?” he asked in the footage. “F– man, that was an absolute war.”
The collapse highlights the extreme physical demands of training at elite MMA facilities. Other UFC fighters have experienced similar situations during intense workouts, including Israel Adesanya and Tony Ferguson, who both vomited after training sessions with former Navy SEAL David Goggins.
Alexander Volkanovski looks to be in phenomenal shape ahead of his title defense against Movsar Evloev. 🔥👀
via @alexvolkanovski pic.twitter.com/3CZYASr2nq
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 19, 2026
Volkanovski Predicts Finish Against Evloev
Despite the training scare, Volkanovski remains focused on his upcoming title defense against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on October 24. The fight will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Evloev brings a perfect 20-0 record into the championship bout. The 32-year-old Russian has won all 10 of his UFC fights by decision, but Volkanovski believes he has the skills to prevent that pattern from continuing.
“Trying to outgrapple me for 25 minutes, I can’t see it,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie. “I believe that the only chance that any of these guys have is for them to catch me.”
The 38-year-old Australian champion expressed confidence that he could secure a stoppage victory. “I think I can do it in pretty wild fashion. I believe I can get a finish. I believe I can do it inside five,” he said.
Volkanovski went further, suggesting this could be the best version of himself that fans have seen. “A lot of people are going to say after this fight, ‘Is that the best Volk we’ve ever seen?'”
Champion’s Path Back to the Title
Volkanovski first won the featherweight championship by defeating Max Holloway in 2019. He defended the title five times before losing it to Ilia Topuria in 2024.
When Topuria vacated the belt to move up to lightweight, Volkanovski reclaimed the championship by beating Diego Lopes. He then defended the title against Lopes again in a rematch this past January.
The champion’s current record stands at 28-4. Evloev represents a different type of challenge than Volkanovski’s recent opponents due to his undefeated status and consistent ability to win decisions.
Volkanovski also defended his teammate Colby Thickness after a recent fight at UFC Perth. The champion posted a video on social media suggesting Thickness’s opponent, Vince Morales, had tapped during an armbar attempt. “I knew I seen a tap! #ufcperth,” he tweeted.
The UFC 333 main event will pit Volkanovski’s championship experience against Evloev’s unbeaten streak and decision-winning consistency over five rounds.
