10 Days in Miami: Volkanovski, Fight Week, and the Long Road to #AndNew

Day 1: Arrival and BOXR Energy

The trip began with turbulence before we even hit the tarmac.
We were meant to have a clean run from Australia into Dallas, then Miami. Instead — delays, chaos, and a sprint through the terminal. Credit to Frank and Alex who literally held the boarding gate doors open to give us a chance to make the connection. We made it. Just.
But our bags didn’t.

No gear, no sleep, and straight into the deep end. Welcome to Miami.

What do you do when you land in a new city and have no luggage? You head to BOXR Gym — the high-performance playground of South Beach. Think flashing lights, full-size murals, clean white walls, and enough content creators to make a TikTok agency blush. But beyond the noise, it’s a proper facility — and the perfect place to shake the jet lag off.

Alex moved like he hadn’t just flown 30 hours. There are no excuses with Volk. It was time to get the body moving, and more importantly, start the mental rhythm that would carry us through the next 10 days.

Days 2–3: Tampa Detour – Final Four Women’s College Hoops

After a few hours of broken sleep, I flew up to Tampa to catch the NCAA Final Four. I wasn’t going to miss this.

Paige Bueckers is everything you’ve heard and more. Calm, clinical, and already playing like a pro. She’s the future face of the WNBA, no doubt.

But for me, the real thrill was seeing Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley — two of the greatest to ever hold a clipboard — facing off from the sidelines. Strategy, poise, and fire. Masters at work.

It was a short escape from the world of weight cuts and walkouts — but a reminder that greatness shows up in many forms. Then, back to the chaos.

Day 4: Everglades (and a Few Questionable Choices)

Monday was our final “quiet” day before Fight Week officially kicked off. So, in true tourist style, we hit the Everglades.

Fan boats. Swamp grass. Gators.

Although… “gators” might be generous. Compared to Aussie crocs, these things looked like lazy iguanas. Zero fear factor. So much so that Frank decided to jump in.

But the adventure didn’t stop there. As seen on Volk’s YouTube channel, the brand-new cars (delivered to us by the absolute legend and forever supporter Jonny Secco) ended up running out of fuel on the motorway.

How? Why? Who knows. But let’s just say this:
Craig Jones was driving.
Frank is head of logistics.
I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.

Fight Week Begins: The Cut, the Schedule, the Grind

From here, the mood shifted. No more distractions. Just the job.

Volk had 7kg to cut, including 6kg in the final 36 hours — something only possible with world-class support.

That’s where Jordi Sullivan and Jack Doherty from The Fight Dietitian step in. Professionals who’ve done it all before, and still treat every fight week like it’s their first.

Their calm is contagious. Their systems are sharp. And when so much can go wrong — dehydration, energy crashes, mental dips — having them there makes everything more manageable.

Training had to flip too. With the fight scheduled for midnight Miami time, we shifted our clocks:
11:00pm–12:30am sessions, home around 1:30am, asleep by 2:30am.
Then up again by 7:00am to FaceTime the kids back home in Australia before school.

It’s the hidden toll of these trips — jet lag, no sleep, no rhythm. But we’re here to do a job.

The Over-35 Curse

There’s been talk for years about the “curse” — the stat that no fighter over 35 reclaims a world title.

Alex? He doesn’t buy into the noise.

But the reality is, recovery slows. Reactions change. And the work behind the scenes needs to be tighter.

That’s where the physio, diet, and prep come in. Our job this week was to keep him moving well, feeling light, and trusting his body.
He’s still elite — but the margins are narrower.

(Insert link to Jordi’s podcast here — essential listening for anyone wanting the science behind the cut and the prep.)

Fight Day Chaos: The Trump Text

Everything was dialled in. Routine locked. Meals timed. Warm-ups scheduled.

And then… this text arrived:

(Insert photo here of the message)

Donald Trump is attending the fight.

Which means Alex now has to arrive at 7:30pm — five hours earlier than planned. That means meals shift, naps gone, prep windows closed.

Volk’s reaction?
“No worries… it still won’t save Diego.”

That’s the mindset. Control what you can. Ignore the rest.

The Final Walk

There’s no feeling like the final few minutes in the dressing room.

You’ve been part of every detail — taping, massages, nutrition, banter. But when they call his name, it’s over.

Now it’s just Alex and Joe.

Frank, Jake, and I watch them walk out. We say what we always say:
“Go well. Come back safe.”

And we wait.

25 Minutes of Mastery

Volkanovski was everything we hoped — but couldn’t assume.

Composed. Calculated. Ruthless.
He picked Diego Lopes apart over five rounds in a display of technical discipline and high fight IQ.
He fought like a champion.
Because he is.

#AndNew

Aftermath

Victory doesn’t feel like champagne and smiles — it’s more needles and blood pressure cuffs.

Medical reviews, suturing, post-fight checks, interviews.
A flurry of backroom activity while adrenaline wears off and the body starts to feel the damage.

Then Izzy (Adesanya) shows up. No cameras, no fuss — just a mate who’s been there.

He knows what it means. What it costs. And why the belt matters, even when you pretend it doesn’t.

Another Chapter

From Auckland in January, to Bangtao in February, and now Miami in April — this run has been relentless.

But this one?
This one was special.

Volk didn’t just reclaim gold — he stamped his legacy.
In the face of doubt, fatigue, and presidential curveballs, he delivered.

Ten days.
One belt.
A job well done.

📸 See the full journey on Instagram @mbaines
🎥 Stories, gators, team chaos, and fight night are all saved in the highlights.