MITCHELL JOHNSON: Alex Volkanovski’s UFC triumph, Rory McIlroy’s Masters win show you can never be written off

Two champions in completely different arenas. United by their ability to push past the mental anguish of past failures to complete their mission.

You might not have seen the names Alex Volkanovski and Rory McIlroy in the same sentence before, but it was their respective triumphs that caught my eye over the weekend.

In the UFC, Australia’s Volkanovski reclaimed the featherweight title against Diego Lopes in Miami.

No one had won an undisputed UFC championship after suffering back-to-back losses and there were plenty doubting whether Volkanovski could bounce back from his pair of knockout defeats, along with concerns over his long layoff and age at 36.

What I admire about Volk is his determination and training ethic. I saw him train years ago in Perth and was genuinely impressed with the effort he put in during that session.

This time, going up against Lopes, his confidence was evident, showcasing the tough mental approach and passion required to be the very best.

No one likes to lose, and especially not by KO, which can be tough to recover from. However, Volk demonstrated a remarkable ability to reset and let go of those two defeats, ignoring the outside noise and fighting his way back to win the title. It’s not always easy to block out negativity, but Volkanovski showed what it truly takes to be at the top.

I wonder what was going through Volk’s mind before this fight; perhaps he was channelling all the negativity as fuel and just had no doubts. He’s a prime example for anyone in sport, proving that with hard work and dedication, anything is achievable.

I’ll admit I don’t watch a lot of golf, but I was really drawn to McIlroy as he approached the final holes in the Masters. It was gripping to see him going from leading comfortably to almost blowing it in just a few holes.

The pressure must have been immense, especially considering his 11-year wait to win a major again. Even through the TV on the other side of the world, you could feel the tension in the air as he navigated those last few holes.

McIlroy’s ability to compose himself after a shaky performance was remarkable. It’s a testament to his skill and experience as a golfer; he really had to dig deep to maintain focus and push through.

It was thrilling to watch him turn it around and ultimately clinch the victory, as well as a career grand slam – one of only six men to have achieved the feat.

The raw emotion poured out of him was what makes sport so captivating. After falling at the final hurdle so many times over the past 11 years, those final holes on golf’s biggest stage were so tense and you could see the panic in his body language.

But what stood out even more was how McIlroy managed to mentally regroup and push through. Every athlete faces those high-pressure moments, and it’s not easy to clear your mind when everything is on the line.

It takes a lot of practice, heartache, mistakes, and learning from those experiences to develop a stronger mindset. McIlroy has faced similar pivotal moments before, but this was undoubtedly the biggest of his career. The desperation to finally win would have added to his nervous energy.

Throughout the first three days, he played brilliantly, and I’m sure that many thought he deserved to win. But as we all know, performing right until the very end is crucial.

Watching him navigate that emotional rollercoaster was captivating. I could feel the tension rising inside me as the stakes grew higher.

Ultimately, his experience carried him through. And when he finally held that trophy and put on the green jacket, the relief and joy on his face said it all.