Alexander Volkanovski has offered a surprising defense of his upcoming challenger, Movsar Evloev, ahead of their scheduled featherweight title fight at UFC 333. The two are set to meet in the octagon on October 24 in Abu Dhabi, where Volkanovski will look to retain his championship against an opponent who has climbed the ranks with an unblemished record. Volkanovski understands why Evloev has struggled to win over crowds. Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at and more. Check out Alexander Volkanovski ‘s comments below.
Evloev currently holds a perfect 20-0 professional record, remaining undefeated across his 10 UFC appearances. Despite this consistency, his fighting style has become a point of contention among supporters, largely because all 10 of his victories within the promotion have been decided by the judges. This reliance on decision-based outcomes has drawn criticism from segments of the fan base that prefer fighters with higher finish rates.
Addressing these perceptions, Volkanovski noted that the Russian contender has faced a difficult path and deserves more credit for his technical abilities. In a recent discussion with MMA Junkie, the champion remarked that Evloev has “obviously had it pretty rough,” acknowledging the challenges of maintaining such a streak without the flashy finishes that often capture public imagination.
Volkanovski remains clear-eyed about the technical threat his opponent poses, though he maintains that he is the right fighter to neutralize those specific strengths.
During a separate interview with UFC on Paramount+, the champion suggested that while Evloev possesses the necessary tools to trouble many athletes in the division, he believes those skills will struggle to find traction when matched against his own defensive and offensive toolkit.
The upcoming bout represents the biggest opportunity of Evloev’s career. Having spent years steadily advancing through the featherweight ranks, the 20-0 challenger arrives in Abu Dhabi with plenty to prove to both his critics and the champion. Volkanovski acknowledges that Evloev is a difficult matchup, yet he remains confident that he can overcome the unique challenges presented by the unbeaten challenger on October 24.
