UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski says he is glad people got to see him emotional following his last defeat, but emphasises his mental health is fine and he is ready to humble Ilia Topuria.
Australia's Volkanovski, 35, fought Islam Makhachev on 11 days' notice in October and said he was "struggling" before accepting the lightweight title fight.
He is set to defend his own title against Georgian-Spaniard Topuria at UFC 298 in California on Saturday.
"What's getting me excited is showing Ilia. I want him to understand and feel 'wow, he was levels ahead'," Volkanovski told BBC Sport.
"Believe it or not, I don't want a first-round finish. I want him to feel like he never stood a chance, and then I'll take him out."
Volkanovski will make the sixth defence of his title against 27-year-old Topuria after failing to capture Makhachev's lightweight belt for a second time.
He was visibly down in an emotionally charged post-fight news conference, sparking concern among his fans.
But he says a combination of factors had caused him to be "undisciplined" before the fight, including not being able to train following elbow surgery and missing out on sleep while looking after his newborn daughter.
"I'm in a much better position because a lot of people are in the same position and feel uneasy but probably don't even know why. I know why," Volkanovski said.
"A lot of other fighters suffer a lot more than what you saw in me - it was just the timing of it.
"But I'm glad people got to see that because it was more awareness for other people."
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o67CZ5qopV%2BovbC%2B02ikorCVmXqurdGtoJqkXZa%2Ftb%2BOb29saGRthHo%3D