Alexander Volkanovski chases featherweight history against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333

One month after his 38th birthday, it wouldn't be disrespectful or out of place to describe two-time UFC featherweight champion and living legend Alexander Volkanovski as old school.

Throughout his second reign as champion, which began when Volkanovski (28-4) bounced back from a pair of stoppage defeats to capture the vacant 145-pound title against Diego Lopes in April 2025, the native of Australia has seemingly been the only elite featherweight openly campaigning for a fight against top contender Movsar Evloev (20-0).

Even when UFC chose to pass over the 32-year-old Evloev in February, when Volkanovski defeated Lopes even more efficiently in their rematch at UFC 325 (despite the fact that Evloev owns a 2023 win over Lopes), Volkanovski used his post-fight interview to welcome the next contender in line.

That opponent officially became Evloev, a native of Russia, after he traveled to London and outlasted fellow unbeaten Lerone Murphy in his backyard for an exciting majority decision win in March that set up Saturday's UFC 333 main event in Abu Dhabi, where Volkanovski looks for the second defense of his second title reign.

"I think that's how it should be," Volkanovski told CBS Sports last week. "There is a responsibility…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/