Movsar Evloev, the undefeated contender, is confident that his winning streak will continue when he eventually competes for the UFC featherweight championship.
The next challenger for Alexander Volkanovski`s belt is still undetermined after Volkanovski`s dominant victory over Diego Lopes at UFC 314, where he reclaimed the title. Volkanovski became a two-time champion by winning the vacant belt after Ilia Topuria vacated it to move to the lightweight division.
Evloev boasts a 9-0 record in the UFC and arguably has the strongest claim for a title shot. If he were to face Volkanovski soon, he believes he would become only the second fighter to defeat the Australian in the 145-pound weight class.
“If I face him, I will constantly pressure him against the cage,” Evloev stated on the Overdogs Podcast. “I won’t let him create distance or move freely. This will force him to engage in striking exchanges, which will eventually tire him out, or I will overwhelm him due to my superior power and wrestling. I am confident I can control him for all five rounds or secure a finish on the ground.”
However, Evloev faces a potential obstacle: a perceived lack of interest from UFC matchmakers. Despite impressive victories over notable opponents like former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, top contender Arnold Allen, and Diego Lopes, Evloev hasn`t finished a fight since joining the UFC in 2019.
Evloev had intended to display a more aggressive striking style in his UFC 310 fight against Sterling. However, Sterling`s strategy focused on testing Evloev`s wrestling, leading to a compelling grappling match and a victory for Evloev that might not be enough to secure an immediate title opportunity.
“In my last fight against Aljamain, I dedicated almost all my training to striking because the UFC kept mentioning my lack of finishes and wrestling-heavy style. I wanted to prove that I also possess strong striking skills,” Evloev explained. “But in that fight, it was difficult to showcase my striking because my opponent consistently took me down and engaged in jiu-jitsu, making it hard to strike while grappling on the ground.”
Evloev has immense confidence in his striking abilities and guarantees that regardless of his opponent in a title fight, he will prioritize keeping the fight standing and aims to win through striking.
“I can promise that if I get a title shot, I won’t initiate takedowns,” Evloev declared. “I won’t be the first to attempt a takedown. If they try to take me down, I will defend, but my primary focus will be on straight striking. Let’s see what happens.”
