❤️ Khabib Nurmagomedov has a special message for Movsar Evloev ahead of the biggest fight of his career! The former UFC lightweight champion showed his support for the undefeated contender as he prepares to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title at UFC 333. 🗣️ “I really hope that this person will be happy tomorrow. Keep your head cool and only go forward, brother.” 👊 Via: (@khabib_nurmagomedov)
Khabib Nurmagomedov has publicly backed fellow Dagestani Movsar Evloev as the undefeated contender prepares for the biggest night of his career, a featherweight title challenge against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333.
The former UFC lightweight champion shared his message on social media on the eve of the fight. "I really hope that this person will be happy tomorrow," Nurmagomedov said. "Keep your head cool and only go forward, brother."
Evloev, 32, enters the bout 20-0 and ranked number one at 145 pounds. The Russian fights out of American Top Team and lands 3.91 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy. His grappling is the sharper weapon, with 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes. He is coming off a majority decision win over Lerone Murphy on March 21, 2026, a five-round fight, and his recent recorded wins over Aljamain Sterling and Arnold Allen also went the distance.
Nurmagomedov, 38, retired with a perfect 29-0 record and finished his career with three straight title-fight submissions over Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. His most recent recorded fight, the Gaethje win at UFC 254, took place on October 24, 2020, exactly six years before this story's date. His own numbers, 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes at 4.1 strikes per minute, mirror the wrestling-heavy profile Evloev brings to the cage.
Volkanovski, 38, is the featherweight champion with a 28-4 record and a pound-for-pound ranking of third. The Australian is a volume striker, landing 5.99 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. He most recently beat Diego Lopes by unanimous decision at UFC 325 on January 31, 2026, in their second title meeting.
Why it matters
- Evloev's 20-0 record is on the line against a champion with a clear striking edge on paper.
- The numbers set up a classic contrast: Volkanovski's 5.99 strikes per minute against Evloev's 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes, nearly three times the champion's 1.63.
- Evloev has the reach advantage at 72 inches (183 cm) to Volkanovski's 71 inches (180 cm), and both men are 38 or under with no age gap beyond six years.
For Evloev, a first title shot would come with the endorsement of one of the most dominant grapplers the sport has seen.
Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev
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