Evloev Challenges Volkanovski at UFC 333 — SkimNews
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- Movsar Evloev will challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title Saturday at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, bringing 20 professional wins, no defeats and half his victories inside the Octagon.
- Alexander Volkanovski enters as a two-time featherweight champion in his second reign; at 38, he says style and experience can deliver his best performance even though his body and chin no longer cooperate as they once did.
- Volkanovski twice challenged Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title and lost both bouts, but says those experiences sharpened the wrestling defense he plans to use against Evloev.
- Movsar Evloev expects to take Volkanovski down repeatedly for 25 minutes, argues his wrestling differs from Makhachev's and says his striking is improving rather than avoiding the champion's more advanced stand-up game.
- Mauricio Ruffy prepared for his fight against Arman Tsarukyan with Volkanovski's help, and Evloev argues the champion split his attention between that camp and his own preparation for Saturday.
- Volkanovski acknowledges retirement is approaching and says he will stop if he can no longer compete at the highest level; Evloev says it would be sad if his title win prompted the respected champion to retire.
- Movsar Evloev plans to defend the belt frequently and welcome any challenger, naming tiramisu as his celebration for winning it after a three-year abstinence from added sugars.
Why it matters: At stake are Evloev’s first UFC belt and the end of Volkanovski’s second featherweight reign, with the champion saying retirement is nearing. A Volkanovski win would preserve his title at 38; an Evloev win would make the title the culmination of 20 wins without defeat, and Evloev says it would be bittersweet if it prompted his admired opponent to retire.
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