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Movsar Evloev went 11 months between fights in 2024 so staying busy in 2025 is arguably most important to him as he eyes a title shot in the near future.
The undefeated Russian—currently No. 4 at featherweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings with a perfect 19-0 record, including nine straight wins in the UFC—would love the chance to challenge for featherweight gold, but he also understands that’s probably not next for him. While reigning champion Ilia Topuria has teased a potential move up to lightweight, all signs have pointed towards a rematch against Alexander Volkanovski as his next title defense.
While Evloev has the utmost respect for what Volkanovski did during his career as champion, he honestly believes his time has passed. He also knows the UFC may still give him another title shot regardless.
“They already fought and Volk lost to Ilia,” Evloev told MMA Fighting. “Now we have new names in the featherweight division. It’s me at No. 4. You want to see the fight between Volk and Ilia or me and Ilia?
“Of course [Volkanovski] is a legend. He’s been for a long time but now he did enough. He was a great fighter for a long time. Now we have new blood, fresh blood and I have enough power and enough willingness to fight for the title. I know the UFC respects Volkanovski so much. So maybe he’ll be next for the title if Ilia doesn’t leave the featherweight division. After him, who knows.”
Evloev is taking a slightly different approach when it comes to his future because he’s learned that gunning for higher ranked fighters might not even matter in the grand scheme of things.
That’s another reason why Evloev is once again open to the possibility of facing Diego Lopes in a rematch despite already holding a win over him in Fight of the Night performance back in 2023.
Lopes accepted that fight on extremely short notice and he’s been calling for another opportunity to face Evloev ever since dropping that unanimous decision.
“Yeah, why not?” Evloev said about facing Lopes again. “This guy has been impressive after losing to me and now he’s higher in the rankings. Why not him? Even if somebody lower in the rankings, if they get me to the title, it doesn’t matter how. Because I need to fight often. I spent too much time waiting for somebody to fight. Like I said, [it doesn’t] matter what ranking you have if you have no title.
“Any one of them is a good fight for me. A second fight with [Diego] Lopes or Volkanovski, he’s still a big name. He’s not in his prime, I think, but he’s still strong and he’s a big name. Maybe after him, they will have no choice but to give me a title shot. That’s why I asked him to fight. I can come to his land Australia to fight him. It doesn’t matter when, where, who, finally just give me the belt.”
The same goes for former champion Max Holloway, who has stated publicly he plans to leave featherweight to now compete in the lightweight division. He’s currently still ranked among the top fighters in the 145-pound division.
Evloev knows it’s highly unlikely he’d get that fight but he’s just showing his willingness to face whoever the UFC throws at him now.
“We still have Max Holloway in the rankings even after he said he’s not going to come back to featherweight so why is he staying there?” Evloev said.
“Without him, I’m No. 3. If he still wants to fight featherweight, his name is also on my list. I want to fight him also because he’s also a big legend, a big name. Maybe after him, they can also give me the title shot. It’s complicated. Because nobody knows what’s going on in featherweight. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. We’ll see.”
No matter the scenario, Evloev just hopes he can keep a busier schedule in 2025 that eventually ends with him getting a title shot.
“While I’m waiting [for a title shot], I can fight,” Evloev said. “I can fight with anyone and I’m still waiting for the title shot. Just don’t freeze me [out], don’t let me wait for the title without no fights at all.”
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