Volkanovski Knocks Out Evloev; Yan Wins Trilogy — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Alexander Volkanovski knocked out title challenger Movsar Evloev on Saturday, ending Evloev’s 20-fight unbeaten streak and setting the record for the most UFC featherweight title fights.
- Jean Silva emerged as the preferred Volkanovski contender over Aljamain Sterling, with Silva’s knockout power and fearlessness contrasted against the champion’s waning speed and durability.
- Movsar Evloev has already beaten three of his four contemporaries in the top five, leaving no plausible rematch available and prompting the recommendation that he take time off.
- Petr Yan edged Merab Dvalishvili in their trilogy after the first four rounds were split down the middle, closing the series 2-1 and achieving the longest gap between two undisputed UFC title reigns for any male athlete.
- Sean O’Malley was identified as Petr Yan’s only bantamweight title opponent on UFC’s radar, with their 2022 bout ending in O’Malley’s controversial split-decision upset.
- Merab Dvalishvili was proposed to face Mario Bautista, whose upset of Cory Sandhagen at International Fight Week was the biggest win of his career; a win puts Dvalishvili back on track.
Why it matters: Volkanovski’s knockout ended Evloev’s 20-fight unbeaten run and reordered the featherweight picture: the source favors Jean Silva as the next challenger. Because Evloev already beat three of his four top-five contemporaries, however, the source sees no immediately useful rematch and recommends a pause.
Ask SkimNews
