Volkanovski Points to Movsar Evloev as Next Featherweight Title Test

Alexander Volkanovski isn't waiting for a contract to start his camp. The UFC featherweight champion, now 28-4 with 13 knockouts and three submissions, says his next defense will almost certainly come against undefeated Russian contender Movsar Evloev — and he's already back in Thailand loading up on wrestling to prepare for it.

Nothing's signed yet, but Volkanovski framed the matchup as the obvious one during a recent vlog, telling followers he's training as if it's game on and expecting confirmation soon. This would be the second defense of his second title reign, following his February decision over Diego Lopes at UFC 325 — his second straight nod on the cards.

The Case Against a Spotless Record

Evloev's 20-0 ledger reads like a fast-track to a title shot, but the road hasn't been that clean. Injuries stalled his momentum, and he's yet to finish a single opponent across 10 UFC appearances — a quirk that has muddied his No. 1 contender argument even as the wins pile up.

The résumé itself is legit, though. Evloev has beaten Lerone Murphy, former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling — now the division's No. 4 at 26-5 — and Lopes, the same man Volkanovski just outpointed. Lopes has since banked two separate title opportunities, which tells you how highly the matchmakers rate anyone who can hang with him.

Where It Slots In

The timing works in the UFC's favor. Numbered cards in October, November and December still need headliners, giving the promotion three clear windows to drop this featherweight title fight before the calendar flips. Volkanovski said he's picked a date in his own head and is building his camp around it.

For a champion who spent years as the pound-for-pound benchmark, the grappling-heavy prep makes sense. Evloev's whole game is smothering top control and relentless takeout pressure — the exact style that can neutralize a striker's rhythm over five rounds. Volkanovski's message to himself was simple: get all that wrestling in early. If confirmation lands as he expects, he'll have it drilled long before fight week.