UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski recently participated in an elaborate prank that left one of his biggest fans in complete distress during what was supposed to be a dream meeting.
The target of the good-natured deception was Ben, a video editor who works with Volkanovski’s team and has earned a reputation as the icon’s most devoted supporter. Ben had been excitedly preparing for the encounter “all week,” making his enthusiasm well-known around the office.
What Ben didn’t realize was that his hero had agreed to be part of an elaborate setup designed to turn his dream meeting into what organizers described as “his worst nightmare.”
The plan was simple but effective: during a casual grappling session, Volkanovski would fake a serious injury and see how his unsuspecting fan would react. The champion was more than willing to show off his acting skills.
The encounter began innocently enough, with Ben being invited to demonstrate some basic jiu-jitsu moves with the champion. “You do a bit of jiu-jitsu, right?” someone asked Ben, who modestly replied, “I’ve done a few afternoons, but no fights.”
As the playful grappling session commenced, bystanders encouraged the nervous fan. “Show him what you’ve got, bro,” they urged, while others noted Ben’s tendency to “give everyone locks” around the office.
Then came the moment that sent Ben into panic mode. During their light sparring, Volkanovski suddenly appeared to injure his neck, immediately causing alarm among everyone present. The champion’s convincing performance had Ben believing he had seriously hurt one of the sport’s biggest stars.
“Are you good? You all right, bro?” Ben frantically asked, clearly distressed by what he thought had happened. The panic in the room escalated quickly, with someone shouting instructions to “call his manager” and others discussing the apparent nerve damage “down the arm.”
Ben’s reaction was exactly what the pranksters had hoped for – complete devastation. “I wasn’t even in there,” he could be heard saying repeatedly, his voice filled with anguish as he processed what he believed he had done to his idol.
The emotional rollercoaster reached its peak when Ben realized the full implications of the situation, leading to visible distress as he grappled with the thought that his dream encounter had turned into a nightmare scenario.
