Aussie UFC world champion Alex Volkanovski reveals his terrifying Covid-19 ordeal


Australian fighting champion Alex Volkanovski has detailed his terrifying coronavirus ordeal which saw him hospitalised twice, his heart rate plummet to 35 beats-per-minute and coughing up blood.

Volkanovski, the current Featherweight Champion, was pulled from a blockbuster co-main event fight at UFC 260 with Brian Ortega after testing positive just days prior.

Speaking through his YouTube channel, the 32-year-old chronicled his experience after testing positive for Covid. 

‘My heart rate went to 37, that’s scary,’ Volkanovski says in a video from his Las Vegas hospital bed.

‘I don’t know whats going on. That scares me.’

Alex Volkanovski has detailed his terrifying coronavirus ordeal which saw him hospitalised twice, his heart rate plummet to 35 beats-per-minute and coughing up blood

Alex Volkanovski has detailed his terrifying coronavirus ordeal which saw him hospitalised twice, his heart rate plummet to 35 beats-per-minute and coughing up blood

Volkanovski, the current Featherweight Champion, was pulled from a blockbuster co-main event fight at UFC 260 with Brian Ortega after testing positive just days prior

Volkanovski, the current Featherweight Champion, was pulled from a blockbuster co-main event fight at UFC 260 with Brian Ortega after testing positive just days prior

Volkanovski was removed from the UFC 260 card just seven days before he was due to fight his Mexican-American opponent. 

‘That was tough for me to hear,’ he said upon testing positive. ‘Devastating news, didnt know how to take it.’

The south Sydney-born fighter said his headaches and fevers progressively got worse and his team were recommending he go back to the hospital.  

‘My breathing started getting uncomfortable, Istarted coughing up phlegm with a bit of blood in it,’ Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. 

The south Sydney-born fighter said his headaches and fevers progressively got worse and his team were recommending he go back to the hospital

The south Sydney-born fighter said his headaches and fevers progressively got worse and his team were recommending he go back to the hospital

Vokanovski pictured left with wife Emma and daughters Ariana and Ariel

Vokanovski pictured left with wife Emma and daughters Ariana and Ariel

Volkanovski met his wife Emma on MSN Messenger when they were 16

Volkanovski met his wife Emma on MSN Messenger when they were 16

He eventually was taken back to hospital and was diagnosed with Covid-19 pneumonia, a more serious case of the virus that sees it spread deeper into the lungs – resulting in the patient being sick and positive longer.

His dietitian, Jordan Sullivan, was with him throughout the process and he said upon monitoring his breathing rate he was ‘very concerned’. 

‘The fact his oxygen levels were deteriorating that quickly, was very concerning to me,’ Sullivan of The Fight Dietitian said.

‘Who knows what downstream effects this will have on his organs on his heart on his brain. Seeing that number come down really, really concerning for me.’

Volkanovski was put on strong medications to attempt to suppress the virus, but as it spread it also had further adverse impacts on his body, including drastically lowering his heart rate. 

‘My average heart rate was 37, lowest was 35 on my app,’ he said in a video from his Vegas hospital bed. 

‘I asked (the doctor) if it can spread to my heart because my heart rate has been going lower and lower, they said it can but you’d know about it – so i was freaking out about that.

‘My breathing was getting very uncomfortable.’ 

The Australian encourages people to take the virus seriously, understanding how so many people who are not as fit as him have become sick and died

The Australian encourages people to take the virus seriously, understanding how so many people who are not as fit as him have become sick and died

The Australian encourages people to take the virus seriously, understanding how so many people who are not as fit as him have become sick and died

Volkanovski now says the priority is to get back to see his wife and two young daughters

Volkanovski now says the priority is to get back to see his wife and two young daughters

Three days after being admitted for a second time, Volkanovski was told he could return to his hospital room to isolate until negative.

He has since returned to light training while his body continues to repair, and is targeting a rescheduled fight against Ortega.

The Australian encourages people to take the virus seriously, understanding how so many people who are not as fit as him have become sick and died.

Volkanovski now says the priority is to get back to see his wife and two young daughters. 

‘We’re all better, we’re out and about. I just want to get home.’     

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