UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski recently opened up about a deeply personal decision that has him weighing his combat career against family planning.
During an appearance on the Mighty Cast podcast with Demetrius Johnson, the 37-year-old father of four revealed his concerns about getting a vasectomy and how it might impact his performance inside the octagon.
When Johnson asked if Volkanovski was done having children after welcoming his fourth daughter, the champion’s response was candid.
“I’m done. I’m done. I’ve said that,” Volkanovski stated, before adding with a laugh, “I’ve said that the last couple of kids, but yeah, I’m definitely done now.”
The conversation then turned to whether he would get a vasectomy. Johnson asked: “You gonna get the surgery and get snipped?”
That’s when Volkanovski’s concerns emerged.
“You know what? It’s funny you say that. I do want to but I’m worried about it affecting my career. So I’m worried I don’t know if it messes with your… I don’t know man I’m not taking the risk,” he explained.
Johnson quickly reassured him from personal experience, explaining that the procedure had no negative effects on his athletic performance. “I’m stronger than I was ever in my life because it just dumps back into your scrotum like it’s not like you’re losing it. It’s almost like you get to keep it instead of you pushing out of you, you actually gain more energy from it,” Johnson told him.
Despite the reassurance, Volkanovski remained hesitant. “Oh you reckon? I was just thinking like what’s going to happen? Yeah, I don’t know. I was just worried about what if it starts messing with your testosterone and all this sort of stuff and I don’t know. That’s why I’m like, I ain’t touching it so I’ll wait till after the career,” he said.
Volkanovski recently defended his title against Diego Lopez and is contemplating his next move in the featherweight division. With four daughters at home and a thriving career that includes his cooking show and recent appearance in a movie, the Australian champion is clearly thinking about his long-term health and performance.
