Alexander Volkanovski has acknowledged Movsar Evloev’s elite wrestling ability but insists the undefeated contender will need more than takedowns to dethrone him at UFC 333.
The reigning UFC featherweight champion is scheduled to defend his title against Evloev on October 24 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Despite recognising the Russian’s grappling credentials, Volkanovski believes his experience, defensive wrestling and ability to return to his feet will make the difference in their five-round championship contest.
Speaking during UFC 333 media day on October 21, Volkanovski described Evloev’s wrestling as among the best in the UFC but questioned whether it would be enough against him.
[Evloev has] incredible wrestling. One of the best in the UFC, definitely the best in our division. But again, it’s just not enough for me, Volkanovski said, as reported by MMA Fighting.
The Australian champion also expressed confidence that he could prevail even if the contest became a wrestling-heavy encounter, underlining how highly he rates his own grappling and ability to adapt during a fight.
Volkanovski backs his wrestling defence against Evloev
Evloev enters the title fight with an undefeated professional record of 20-0, including 10 victories inside the UFC. Wrestling has been central to his success, allowing him to control opponents and consistently win rounds against established featherweight contenders.
The Russian has recorded 49 takedowns in the UFC, including successful attempts against high-level opposition such as Lerone Murphy, Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen and Diego Lopes.
Those numbers make Evloev a significant challenge for Volkanovski, who has built his reputation on combining technical striking with strong defensive wrestling and the ability to recover from difficult positions.
However, the champion does not believe Evloev will be able to hold him down for extended periods or inflict enough damage from the top to secure a victory.
Volkanovski explained that even if Evloev manages to complete takedowns, he expects to work his way back to his feet and prevent the challenger from establishing sustained control.
I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s a great fighter, great wrestler, but again, these things are not problems for me, Volkanovski said.
The champion also suggested that Evloev could struggle to maintain control once he begins attacking from dominant positions, believing that the openings created by those attempts will allow him to escape.
Evloev’s undefeated record presents a major challenge
While Volkanovski remains confident, Evloev’s record demonstrates why the challenger has earned his opportunity. The 32-year-old Russian has won all 10 of his UFC appearances, building his case through victories over increasingly difficult opposition. His most recent performances against Murphy, Sterling and Allen strengthened his position among the division’s leading contenders.
Evloev’s ability to mix wrestling with improved striking also makes him more than a one-dimensional grappler. Although he has yet to secure a finish inside the UFC, his consistent ability to win rounds has carried him to the biggest fight of his career.
The challenger has previously explained that winning matters more to him than chasing spectacular finishes. He believes that controlling opponents and demonstrating effective wrestling are legitimate ways to win fights, even if those performances do not always satisfy fans looking for constant action.
That approach could become particularly important against Volkanovski, whose striking combinations, footwork and movement make him a difficult opponent to engage in prolonged exchanges.
Evloev may therefore need to balance his usual wrestling-heavy strategy with enough striking to keep the champion guessing. At the same time, abandoning his most effective weapon simply to produce an entertaining contest could be a costly mistake.
UFC 333 could have major featherweight title implications
The matchup carries considerable significance for both fighters. Volkanovski is seeking another successful title defence as he continues to strengthen his legacy in the featherweight division. A victory over an undefeated contender would add another important result to a résumé that already includes championship wins over several elite opponents.
Evloev, meanwhile, has the opportunity to capture his first UFC title and establish himself as the leading fighter at 145 pounds. Defeating a champion of Volkanovski’s calibre would represent the biggest achievement of his career.
The contest also presents a fascinating stylistic question: can Evloev impose his wrestling against a champion who believes he can neutralise it, or will Volkanovski force the fight into the striking exchanges where he expects to hold the advantage?
Volkanovski has made his position clear. He respects Evloev’s abilities but does not believe the Russian’s wrestling alone can determine the outcome. Whether that confidence proves justified will become clear when the two meet in Abu Dhabi on October 24.
For Evloev, the challenge is to turn his wrestling dominance into a championship performance. For Volkanovski, it is an opportunity to demonstrate that his all-round game remains capable of defeating one of the division’s most difficult stylistic challenges.
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