Movsar Evloev, with a perfect professional record, is confident that his winning streak will continue even if his next fight is for the UFC featherweight championship.
The featherweight title picture is currently focused on Alexander Volkanovski, who recently regained the belt with a dominant victory over Diego Lopes at UFC 314. Volkanovski became a two-time champion after Ilia Topuria vacated the title to move up to the lightweight division.
Evloev boasts a 9-0 record in the UFC and presents a strong argument for a title opportunity. Looking ahead to a possible matchup with Volkanovski, Evloev is sure he can become only the second fighter to defeat the Australian at featherweight.
“If we fight, I plan to pressure him against the cage,” Evloev stated on the Overdogs Podcast. “I won’t let him escape and move freely. He’ll have to fight me in striking exchanges, and he will get tired. Or I will defeat him because I know I am stronger, a better wrestler, and I can control him for the entire fight or finish him on the ground.”
However, Evloev faces a challenge: matchmakers seem hesitant to give him a title shot. Despite impressive UFC victories against notable opponents like former champion Aljamain Sterling, top contender Arnold Allen, and Diego Lopes, Evloev hasn`t secured a finish since joining the promotion in 2019.
Evloev mentioned he intended to display a more aggressive striking style in his UFC 310 fight against Sterling. However, Sterling’s strategy to test Evloev’s wrestling led to a grappling-heavy contest, which Evloev won, but it might not have been the kind of victory to guarantee a title shot.
“For the Sterling fight, I focused almost entirely on striking because the UFC kept mentioning my lack of finishes and wrestling-heavy style. I wanted to show them I can strike well too,” Evloev explained. “But in that fight, it was hard to showcase my striking because my opponent kept taking me down and engaging in jiu-jitsu. It’s not easy to strike when you are constantly grappling on the ground.”
Evloev has such strong belief in his striking abilities that he confidently asserts he will prioritize a stand-up fight, regardless of who he faces for the title, and he expects to win.
“Okay, I can promise that if I get a title shot, I won’t initiate takedowns,” Evloev declared. “I won’t be the first to shoot. If they try to take me down, I’ll defend, but my focus will be on straight striking. Let’s see what happens.”
Wesley Dunham