Michael Jordan was violently ill before game five of the 1997 NBA finals, but somehow played through severe discomfort to score 38 points and give the Chicago Bulls a 3-2 lead over the Utah Jazz, setting them up to win the series in their next game.
Nearly 30 years later, it’s still talked about.
asserted
it → play → game
The ‘Flu Game’ was one of Jordan’s most memorable performances, and a core moment in his own sporting mythology – even though, as it turned out, he actually had food poisoning, not the flu.
asserted
he → turn → poisoning
Alexander Volkanovski has just produced his own version, one that might soon be looked back upon the same way.
uncertain
that → produce → way
Days out from his UFC featherweight title defence against previously undefeated Russian contender Movsar Evloev, Volkanovski was feeling rough.
asserted
Volkanovski → feel → Evloev
His breathing was heavy, to the point where he was genuinely worried he might not last five rounds.
uncertain
he → worry → rounds
It was later revealed that he was suffering from a chest infection.
asserted
he → reveal → infection
He was offered medication that was perfectly legal to take, but Volkanovski was worried it might somehow be perceived as giving him an unfair advantage.
uncertain
it → offer → advantage
And he liked the idea of making things harder for himself.
asserted
things → like → himself
So he refused.
asserted
he → refuse → ?
“Not many people, I guess, would choose to do that,” he said on Monday, hinting that there was “more to the story” which he’ll tell another day.
“I looked at it as more of a challenge.
asserted
I → guess → challenge
I was like, ‘No, no, I like the idea of this being more of a challenge.’
asserted
this → like → challenge
I’m just weird like that.
asserted
I → ’m → that
Put it this way: my team weren’t happy with me, but I guess they’re not surprised as well.
asserted
they → put → me
“Most people would probably panic and freak out.
asserted
people → panic → ?
I’ll look at it like, ‘Hey, when this story is told, it’s just going to make that so much better.’
asserted
that → look → it
And that’s how it was.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
Indeed, what followed was, by his own assessment, the greatest moment of Volkanovski’s great career to date.
asserted
followed → follow → date
Volkanovski saw off Evloev with a second-round TKO finish at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, his record ninth featherweight title-fight win – and he got it done quickly, just as he’d promised his wife, Emma, as a belated anniversary present.
asserted
he → see → present
Hours later, he was back in Sydney, his belt proudly draped over his shoulder next to a shimmering diamond necklace, his face looking only slightly worse for wear, still coughing through the remnants of his illness.
asserted
face → drape → illness
“I think it has to be right up there.
asserted
it → think → ?
I really do think it’s right up there,” he said.
asserted
he → think → ?
“Undefeated fighter ... you know what?
asserted
you → know → ?
Yeah, I’ll probably say that tops it, to be quite honest.”
asserted
that → say → it
So, what’s next?
asserted
what → ’ → ?
Volkanovski is obviously much closer to the end than the beginning; had he taken much damage against Evloev, he might have been talking about his retirement plans on Monday, rather than celebrating his latest victory.
Such is his exalted status now in the UFC world, Volkanovski is in the envious position of being able to effectively call the shots, and nominate his next challenge.
uncertain
Volkanovski → take → challenge
“I had a good chat with the bosses of UFC, Dana White and Hunter Campbell,” Volkanovski said.
asserted
Volkanovski → have → UFC
“You’ve got those guys even saying publicly that, ‘What Alex wants, we’ll give him.
asserted
we → get → him
We’re not really going to say no to Alex.’
asserted
We → go → Alex
They don’t usually say those types of things.”
asserted
They → say → things
Volkanovski has never held belts in two weight classes before; his only concern was that he would be seen to be “cutting the line” ahead of other lightweights.
asserted
he → hold → lightweights
But Gaethje is 37, and the idea of both of them retiring afterwards and vacating their belts, so as to not hold up their respective divisions, appeals greatly to ‘Volk’.
asserted
both → retire → Volk
And so does the idea of doing it in Sydney, if he can convince White and Campbell.
asserted
he → do → White
“Let these two old fellas go have a crack, and then we can just sail off in the sunset.
asserted
we → let → sunset
I just feel like that’s something that’s never been done, a cool story, and I think that’ll be great for the UFC,” he said.
asserted
he → feel → UFC
The word “story” came up a lot on Monday.
asserted
story → come → Monday
Volkanovski is happy to let others worry about titles, numbers, statistics, legacies and the GOAT debate; he is only chasing new chapters that will transcend and resonate with people at a deeper level.
asserted
that → let → level
For all his achievements, Volkanovski acknowledges that mixed martial arts still occupies a different, slightly obscured place in the Australian consciousness to more traditional sports.
asserted
arts → acknowledge → sports
His wildly popular cooking channel on YouTube and other long-form videos have helped him reach a broader audience, one that doesn’t necessarily care about what he does inside the octagon.
asserted
he → help → octagon
As long as people are connecting with him, whichever way they’re doing that, Volkanovski is content.
asserted
Volkanovski → connect → that
“This is a different sport, and I get that.
asserted
I → get → that
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
