UFC 325 star Alexander Volkanovski’s career could have played out very differently.

The two-time UFC featherweight champion will return to action this Saturday as one of the promotion’s top fighters and a leading name in the GOAT debate at 145 pounds.

But Volkanovski’s journey toward immense success in mixed martial arts’ leading promotion was almost cut short moments after he earned his very first title shot.

Seven years before Volkanovski’s upcoming UFC 325 rematch against Diego Lopes, the Australian’s biggest win up to that point was nearly followed by a disaster when a health scare threatened to end his time in MMA.

Alexander Volkanovski’s blood infection after beating Jose Aldo could have led to amputation

After a perfect 6-0 start to his Octagon career, ‘Alexander the Great’ was matched up against the division’s consensus top legend in 2019.

Volkanovski beat Jose Aldo at UFC 237, spoiling the Brazilian’s first fight in Rio de Janeiro in two years with a unanimous decision victory.

The result earned the Aussie his shot at Max Holloway, but he had to overcome some physical adversity first.

Volkanovski was hospitalized from a blood infection while flying back from Brazil following the pay-per-view. After recovering, he revealed the gravity of the situation during an interview with ESPN, disclosing that he could have lost his leg had things played out differently.

“I guess it was too hard to tell because I was injured because (with) the trauma from the kicks, and that sort of threw me off,” Volkanovski said.

“But once I went on the plane it went crazy and obviously I just started feeling really crook (sick). Then I went on the next flight and that’s when it really hit me; I had 40-plus-degree temperatures. It was nasty stuff.

“I was delirious by then and didn’t really know what was going on, but I was like, ‘Get me a doctor, I need a doctor.’ So they did that and, yeah, it was pretty serious,” he added.

“The antibiotics didn’t work straight away; we were really worried about it hitting my tendons and bones because it was very close. Once it does that you can have problems.

“We were pretty lucky the plane stopped in Chile rather than if I’d got on the next flight. Within a couple of hours I would have had to tell them we’ve got to turn this flight around, and by then the damage would have been done and I could have lost the leg, lose your life.”

Alexander Volkanovski can match a major Jose Aldo record at UFC 325

Many believe Volkanovski’s UFC résumé is already strong enough to cement his status as the greatest featherweight of all time. Some, however, still bestow that crown onto the head of Aldo.

But the Australian could sway those who see the Brazilian as the 145-pound GOAT in his favor at UFC 325, where he could enhance his legacy with another record feat.

Volkanovski could match Aldo’s record for the most featherweight title fight wins in UFC history on Saturday.

The Australian currently has seven, leaving him just one away from the tally Aldo achieved during his legendary career inside the Octagon.