Volkanovski announces plans to defend title vs Evloev in Aug/Sept

Alexander Volkanovski has reportedly told the UFC he wants to defend the featherweight championship against Movsar Evloev sometime in August or September, though no official date or venue has been confirmed for the potential matchup.

Volkanovski, nicknamed "The Great," carries a 28-4 record and has held the featherweight title through one of the division's most dominant reigns. The 37-year-old Australian, who trains out of Freestyle Fighting Gym, also sits third in the pound-for-pound rankings. His output and precision are among his defining attributes — he lands nearly six significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate, well above the divisional average.

Standing across from him would be Evloev, the number-one-ranked featherweight contender who remains unbeaten through 20 professional fights. The 32-year-old Russian, representing American Top Team, has built his undefeated record on a well-rounded game that leans heavily on wrestling. He averages 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes and still generates a respectable 3.91 significant strikes per minute, giving him meaningful options both on the feet and on the mat.

Why it matters

• An undefeated number-one contender challenging the reigning champion is as clean a title fight as the featherweight division can produce.
• Evloev's elite takedown volume could present a stylistic challenge for Volkanovski, whose own wrestling base has been central to his championship success.
• A late-summer or early-fall target would mark Volkanovski's return to action after time away, adding further stakes to the bout.

Because this report stems from Volkanovski informing the UFC of his intentions rather than a formal promotional announcement, the fight should be treated as unconfirmed until the UFC makes an official statement.