Here he is, launching an unexpected coaching career as part of ESPN's The Ultimate Fighter series, a reality show insight into the combat sport's next generation, and the world featherweight champion was proudly wearing the colours again for Team Volkanovski.

"The Gorillas!," Volkanovski cheers down the phone, from his Sydney hotel room quarantine base, after returning from the US.

"I didn't actually get to choose them, but once I had the chance to have blue and gold for our team, I told all the boys about it, playing footy back home.

"I'd only just started MMA then in my last year at Warilla, it's pretty crazy, pretty exciting to think what I've achieved since.

"I can't give too much away about what's on the show, but I'm proud of where I come from and I'm proud of Australia, so I wanted that to come across and show how we roll here, coming from a small city in the world like Wollongong."

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Volkanovski was man-of-the-match in the Gorillas 2011 premiership triumph, his last game of rugby league before launching a career in the octagon.

The 32-year-old is unsure how he would have handled the crackdown on high contact in the NRL if he was still carting the Steeden up.

"I love the sport and you want to look after the players, but at the same time, let's not change the game too much," he said.

Volkanovski's whole world was turned upside down when he contracted Covid-19 in the US earlier this year, forcing his title fight with Brian Ortega to be delayed until likely September.

He contracted pneumonia and was left hospitalised for days while recovering.

Back in training even while restricted in quarantine, Volkanovski posted a video on social media after being "rocked" by a session on an assault bike in a cardio session.

Volkanovski though is adamant he will be fit to take on Ortega, who is also his rival coach in The Ultimate Fighter series.

"I haven't jumped on the assault bike since before I was meant to fight (in March)," he told the Mercury.

"I was always going to feel it, especially with the change of weather, it's freezing here compared to Vegas and Texas. I think a lot of people just ran with it after I've had Covid, but I'm not worried about it, I'm training pretty hard, wrestling and grappling, busting my arse."

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However, after the Covid scare, Volkanovski said he was ready to give himself a break and spend some family time back home in the Illawarra, before beginning his final preparations to take on Ortega.

"It did surprise me," he said of the Covid impact.

"I was one of those guys that being young you think it won't affect me as much, but I was in the final stages of preparing for a fight and that got my immune system down.

"It's been a rollercoaster, but it has been from day one since I started MMA, but overcoming adversity is what makes the highs so worthwhile."

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