Movsar Evloev boasts a perfect professional record and is confident that his winning streak will continue when he eventually competes for the UFC featherweight championship.
The next challenger for the title is still undetermined after Alexander Volkanovski recently regained the belt with an impressive win against Diego Lopes at UFC 314. Volkanovski became a two-time champion by winning the vacant title after Ilia Topuria vacated it to move up to the lightweight division.
Evloev holds a 9-0 record in the UFC and arguably has a strong claim for a title opportunity. If he faces Volkanovski in the future, he believes he will only be the second fighter to defeat the Australian in the 145-pound weight class.
“If I fight him, my strategy will be to corner him,” Evloev stated on the Overdogs Podcast. “I won’t allow him to escape or move freely. This will force him to engage in exchanges with me, which will eventually tire him out. Alternatively, I believe I can overpower him due to my superior strength, wrestling skills, and ability to control him for the entire five rounds, or even secure a finish on the ground.”
One potential hurdle for Evloev is the apparent lack of interest from UFC matchmakers. Despite securing impressive victories within the octagon against notable opponents such as former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, top contender Arnold Allen, and Diego Lopes, Evloev has yet to secure a finish since joining the UFC in 2019.
Evloev had intended to showcase a more aggressive striking style in his recent fight against Sterling at UFC 310. However, Sterling`s strategy to test Evloev`s wrestling resulted in a compelling grappling contest and a victory for Evloev. Despite the win, it may not be enough to guarantee him a title shot.
“Leading up to the Aljamain Sterling fight, I dedicated nearly all my training to striking because the UFC kept emphasizing my lack of finishes and perceived wrestling-heavy style. I wanted to demonstrate my striking ability,” Evloev explained. “However, in that fight, I couldn`t effectively display my striking because my opponent consistently took me down and engaged in jiu-jitsu, making it difficult to showcase my stand-up skills while grappling on the ground.”
Evloev has immense confidence in his striking abilities, guaranteeing that regardless of his opponent in a title fight, he will prioritize keeping the fight standing and secure a victory.
“I can promise that if I get a title shot, I won’t initiate takedowns,” Evloev declared. “I won’t be the first to attempt a takedown. If they try to take me down, I will defend, but my primary focus will be straight striking. Let’s see what happens.”
