Alexander Volkanovski details COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalization: 'You can see how people pass away'

Alexander Volkanovski experienced firsthand some of the COVID-19 complications that have taken the lives of many around the world.

The UFC featherweight champion was hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia after contracting the virus days before his scheduled title defense against Brian Ortega on March 27 at UFC 260 in Las Vegas. Volkanovski (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC) was pulled from the bout by the organization when he tested positive for coronavirus a little more than one week before the fight. Several of Volkanovski’s teammates also contacted the virus.

The 32-year-old champ was initially required to quarantine at the host hotel in Las Vegas due to UFC COVID-19 protocols. He experienced mild symptoms at first, as he had many headaches and felt congested, but they worsened as the days went by.

“I started feeling it in the lungs a little bit, and I started feeling uncomfortable,” Volkanovski said in a video recalling his battle with coronavirus. “I started coughing up phlegm, and it was coming up pinky bloody with a bit of blood in there, and I was lucky I had (Jordan Sullivan) with The Fight Dietitian and he knows a bit, so I was like, ‘What’s this?’ and he’s like, ‘That’s usually the lungs and things like that.’ That’s when I thought maybe we should start looking into this. I was having bad fevers and headaches, but that’s sort of common. So I started talking with him about it, and that’s when I was thinking maybe we need a check up.”

Volkanovski went to the hospital and was told he had COVID-19 pneumonia. He was prescribed medicine and sent back to the hotel where he also needed to monitor his oxygen levels. He was told if his oxygen levels dropped below 93 percent, he needed to get back to the hospital.

Not long after getting back to the hospital Volkanovski’s symptoms worsened. His oxygen levels did drop below 93 percent, and he was also coughing up more blood than before. Volkanovski said he was also looking pale, which caused concerned among his team. He went to see the doctor a second time, and this time he was hospitalized.

Volkanovski spent three days at the hospital. He said he had a rough battle with COVID-19, but with the help of medication, the UFC featherweight title holder was able to recover and was discharged to quarantine back at the hotel.

“This whole COVID thing is no joke,” Volkanovski said. “That’s why I wanted to do this video. Again, everyone is going to have their thoughts, but a lot of people were asking me how it was like getting symptoms, and now you guys aware. The symptoms got pretty wild. We got the normal symptoms, and they can lead to other things. So I got the normal symptoms that led me to pneumonia and other problems. It got pretty serious.

“I think if I was unhealthy, maybe I would’ve got other problems, and you can see how people pass away and things like that. This is quite serious. I’ve always taken it seriously, but know I understand it’s very unpredictable and very, very contagious because, again, it’s something that got in and got a few members of the team, so it was a crazy experience, but we’re all good. I’m no longer contagious, so I can go out and about, which is good. And yeah, so now we just want to get home.”

Volkanovski is no longer COVID-19 positive and he’s working on getting back into shape and easing into training. The Australian is still targeted to fight Ortega sometime later this year after the two featherweights coach the new season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality TV show.