Alexander Volkanovski Set for 12th UFC Title Fight Against Undefeated Movsar Evloev

Alexander Volkanovski, currently ranked No. 7 on the pound-for-pound chart, will face 20-0 Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi.

Alexander Volkanovski is scheduled to face undefeated Russian fighter Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. The bout marks Volkanovski’s 33rd professional fight, his 19th appearance in the promotion, and his 12th UFC title fight. A victory would secure his ninth featherweight title win, surpassing José Aldo for the most in divisional history, while tying Aldo’s record of eight successful title defenses.

Now 38 years old, the two-time champion currently sits at No. 7 on ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings. His opponent, Evloev, enters the Octagon with a perfect 20-0 record. Volkanovski told ESPN he intends to prove the challenger cannot rely on wrestling to hold him down, despite public perception of the stylistic matchup. The champion recently moved his training to a new Freestyle MMA facility that is ten times larger than coach Joe Lopez’s previous gym.

While Volkanovski has not ruled out competing past his 40th birthday, he noted that such a decision depends on his physical condition and the damage sustained in upcoming bouts. Beyond the featherweight division, he has proposed a potential lightweight "superfight" against Justin Gaethje. Outside of active competition, Volkanovski recently appeared as the character Joe in the new "Street Fighter" film premiere and manages a YouTube series titled "Cooking with Volk."