Alexander Volkanovski and undefeated UFC featherweight contender Movsar Evloev went nose to nose in Abu Dhabi ahead of the UFC 333 main event. š¤ Volk is putting his featherweight title on the line against Evloev, who enters the matchup with a perfect 20-0 MMA record. Evloev has promised to keep shooting for takedowns, saying heāll take Volkanovski down ā100 timesā if necessary. But the Australian champion believes he can keep the fight standing and use his elite striking to defend his title. With Volkanovskiās championship experience against Evloevās undefeated record and relentless wrestling, this matchup has MMA fans watching closely. Can anyone finally hand Movsar Evloev his first professional loss? š #AlexanderVolkanovski #MovsarEvloev #UFC #MMA #UFC333
Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev went face to face in Abu Dhabi ahead of their UFC 333 featherweight title fight, a main event that pairs the reigning champion against the division's undefeated number-one contender.
Evloev, who is 20-0, has said he plans to keep shooting for takedowns and will put Volkanovski on the mat "100 times" if that is what it takes. The champion, for his part, believes he can keep the fight standing and win with his striking.
Volkanovski, 38, is 28-4 and ranked third in the pound-for-pound list. The Australian lands 5.99 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. He is coming off a unanimous decision over Diego Lopes at UFC 325 on January 31, his second straight title-fight win over Lopes after the pair also met at UFC 314 in April 2025. His most recent recorded loss came at UFC 298, a second-round KO/TKO against Ilia Topuria.
Evloev, 32, trains out of American Top Team and represents Russia. His most recent recorded fight was a majority decision over Lerone Murphy on March 21, 2026, a five-round contest. Before that he beat Aljamain Sterling and Arnold Allen, both by unanimous decision. He lands 3.91 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, but his calling card is wrestling: 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The takedown gap is stark. Evloev averages 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes against Volkanovski's 1.63, nearly three times as many.
- The striking gap runs the other way. Volkanovski lands about two more significant strikes per minute (5.99 to 3.91) and is ten points more accurate (57 to 47 percent).
- Evloev is two years younger and has a two-inch height edge on paper (170 cm to 168 cm) and a one-inch reach edge (183 cm to 180 cm).
- Every one of Evloev's three most recent recorded wins went to the scorecards, a sign of how grinding his style can be over distance.
The result will decide whether the featherweight division gets its first undefeated-contender-turned-champion of this run or whether Volkanovski adds another successful defense to his reign.
Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev
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