Alexander Volkanovski defeated Movsar Evloev by second-round knockout at UFC 333 on October 24, 2026, according to ESPN’s completed event results. The victory preserves Volkanovski’s featherweight championship and ends Evloev’s unbeaten record. The result is a major development in the 145-pound division because it keeps the title with the established champion rather than creating a new contender-led era. Volkanovski’s next challenger will depend on the division’s rankings and available contenders. The report lists the finish as a knockout by punches at 4:54 of Round 2.
Alexander Volkanovski retained the UFC featherweight championship at UFC 333 on October 24, 2026, stopping previously unbeaten Movsar Evloev with a second-round knockout. ESPN's completed event results list the finish as punches at 4:54 of Round 2, just six seconds before the end of the round.
The result ends Evloev's perfect record and keeps the 145-pound belt with its established champion.
Volkanovski, 38, is 28-4 and ranked third in the pound-for-pound list. The Australian from Freestyle Fighting Gym had won his two most recent recorded fights, both unanimous decisions over Diego Lopes, the latest at UFC 325 on January 31, 2026. His most recent recorded loss came at UFC 298 in February 2024, when Ilia Topuria stopped him in the second round. His striking numbers explain the finish: he lands 5.99 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy.
Evloev, 32, entered at 20-0 as the division's top-ranked contender. The Russian fighter, who trains at American Top Team, built his run on grappling, averaging 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes. His most recent recorded fight was a majority decision win over Lerone Murphy on March 21, 2026, and all three of his recorded outings before this one went the distance. Before Saturday he had never been stopped.
Why it matters
- Evloev's finish is the first stoppage loss on his record, and it came from a fighter with a clear edge on the feet: nearly two more significant strikes landed per minute (5.99 to 3.91) and a ten-point lead in accuracy (57 to 47 percent).
- The grappling gap ran the other way on paper. Evloev's takedown rate is almost three times Volkanovski's 1.63 per 15 minutes, though the fight ended before that edge could define it.
- Volkanovski's next challenger will depend on the division's rankings and the contenders available. With Evloev's unbeaten run gone, the top of the 145-pound ladder is open to reshuffling.
The size difference was modest. Volkanovski stands 168 cm with a 180 cm reach, against Evloev's 170 cm height and 183 cm reach, so the challenger held a slight edge in both measurements. The champion's output and power decided it.
Saturday, October 24, 2026
