Volkanovski Aims for Historic Quick Finish Against Evloev in Abu Dhabi Title Showdown

Alexander Volkanovski is promising to bring his absolute best to the headline bout at UFC 333 this Saturday, aiming to deliver a special anniversary present to his wife. The Australian fighter will defend his UFC featherweight title against the highly-ranked Russian contender, Movsar Evloev, in Abu Dhabi. Following two consecutive losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, many questioned if Volkanovski, widely considered the greatest 145-pounder ever, was past his prime. However, he silenced those doubts with two dominant performances against Diego Lopes, first reclaiming the featherweight belt and then successfully defending it. At 38, Volkanovski acknowledges his age but emphasizes that his extensive experience brings increased wisdom. A revised approach to training and preparation suggests his peak performance might still be ahead. "Performance-wise, yes," Volkanovski stated when asked by The National if he expects to be at his best against Evloev. "I'm not trying to lie to everyone and say like I'm the exact person I was when I was 22 years old. I'm not saying that, but that don't matter. I'm still in incredible shape. I'm still so explosive. We obviously know I've got that fight IQ. I truly do believe like I can go out there and look the best I've ever looked." While Volkanovski holds an advantage in striking, Evloev is a formidable wrestler. The Russian boasts an undefeated record in 20 professional MMA fights, and Volkanovski acknowledges that Evloev is long overdue for a UFC title opportunity. He welcomes the challenge, stating, "I just think stylistically, it's a great matchup for me. He does bring a lot of challenges. These are definitely challenges that a lot of other fighters will struggle with, not just me. So these problems, I'll be smiling through the challenges he's going to give me. What I put myself through in training camp and throughout my career, I'm not going to crumble. I'm never going to panic. That's not going to happen. Like, bring it on. You can try and take me down all day, even if you get me down. I'm going to be smarter and I'll get back up." Volkanovski's extensive octagon time, particularly in championship fights, is unmatched. His trilogy with Max Holloway and his recent bouts with Lopes all went the full five rounds. Out of his 28 victories, 12 have come by decision, with 13 by knockout. He has expressed a desire to finish the fight spectacularly but is equally prepared to engage in a grueling battle with Evloev, who is making his first UFC title appearance. Volkanovski hopes for the former. Traveling to Abu Dhabi with his family, including his wife Emma, Volkanovski mentioned their wedding anniversary on Tuesday. He humorously expressed his desire for a swift victory for his wife's sake: "My present will be not making her stress too long on the sidelines. So I'm going to go out there and try and make it a quick one. I'm prepared for an absolute war. That's just how it is. But I think I can go out there and take him out, and that's not a knock on him, it's just stylistically where I think we're matched and how I'm going to approach this fight." This Saturday's fight marks Volkanovski's 12th consecutive title fight and the sixth defense of his featherweight belt across two reigns. A victory over Evloev would see him surpass Jose Aldo for the most title fight wins in the division with nine. However, Volkanovski insists that at this stage of his career, records are secondary to the challenge of testing himself against the best. "I don't care about it. It is cool, but that's not what drives me. The most important thing is the challenges that are in front of me and getting through them challenges. That's what puts a smile on my face." Evloev, who has patiently waited for his title shot, stated, "I have been waiting seven years since I signed with the UFC for this moment. Now, it's just three days until the historical moment for me, for my family. I'm grateful for this moment, for this opportunity." Evloev's impressive record includes wins over Dan Ige, Diego Lopes, Arnold Allen, Aljamain Sterling, and Lerone Murphy. The undefeated 32-year-old Russian is also accustomed to fighting deep into bouts, with 13 of his 20 wins coming by decision. Evloev commented, "I had a couple of five-round fights too. I do a lot of sparring every week, like twice a week, since I was 20, and I got enough experience to fight for five rounds. In my mind, I was making myself ready to fight against Volkanovski for the last couple of years. To become the best, you need to be champion of your division. In my mind, I won this fight 1,000 times. Mentally, I'm ready, and on Saturday, I'm gonna show you." When asked about the significance of winning the championship in Abu Dhabi, Evloev responded, "I have some feelings inside, but it's hard to explain, and I prefer explaining when I win the belt, not before."