Alexander Volkanovski to defend title against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi

Alexander Volkanovski is set to defend the UFC featherweight title against Movsar Evloev in the main event of UFC 333 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi next month, with the champion adding a personal note to the buildup by sharing a video of himself eating chocolate in bed the night before a training session.

Volkanovski, 37, carries a 28-4 record into the bout and holds the featherweight belt while sitting at number three in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Australian, who trains out of Freestyle Fighting Gym, is one of the division's most prolific strikers, landing nearly six significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate. He most recently defended the title against Diego Lopes at UFC 325. In a candid admission, Volkanovski has suggested this fight could be his last if the wear on his body becomes too great.

Standing across from him will be Evloev, the number-one ranked featherweight contender and the only man in the division who can say he has never lost as a professional. The 32-year-old Russian, representing American Top Team, brings a perfect 20-0 record and a well-rounded game built around a strong takedown rate of 4.78 per 15 minutes. At five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, Evloev has the size advantage over the champion and lands close to four significant strikes per minute.

Why it matters

• A Volkanovski win would further cement his status as the greatest featherweight of his era, though it may also mark his farewell to the sport.
• Evloev enters as the unbeaten top contender, making this the most credible title challenge the division can currently offer.
• The style matchup pits Volkanovski's elite striking volume and accuracy against Evloev's wrestling-heavy, well-rounded attack.
• The Abu Dhabi setting adds global visibility to what is already one of the most significant featherweight title fights in recent memory.