Movsar Evloev is expressing strong confidence that his next fight will be against the reigning two-time UFC featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski. He has already started preparing for what he expects to be a title showdown.
Following a significant injury layoff, Evloev made his return to the octagon at UFC London, where he secured a victory over Lerone Murphy. In this bout, the Russian contender notably deviated from his signature wrestling-dominant approach, opting instead for an exciting striking exchange to make a strong impression.
Despite his performance, UFC President Dana White did not officially confirm that Evloev, widely regarded as the top featherweight contender, would be granted the immediate title opportunity after UFC London.
In contrast, Jean Silva, ranked sixth in the 145-pound division, publicly dismissed Evloev’s fight as unimpressive and subsequently asserted that he himself would be the next challenger for Volkanovski.
Volkanovski, known as “The Great,” has previously stated his intention to only face top-tier and deserving contenders. He has also expressed willingness to fight Evloev, seeing it as an opportunity to demonstrate his ability to counter elite Russian wrestling techniques.
In a recent interview, Movsar Evloev disclosed that after his bout with Lerone Murphy, he spent a period at home before planning to return to American Top Team (ATT) to begin training for his upcoming fight. The 32-year-old fighter stated:
“We will prepare, God willing, for the title fight. It seems everything suggests that I will finally fight for the title next, God willing. It’s a very important stage in my career, and I want to make it so that later I don’t regret anything.”
Alexander Volkanovski reclaimed the featherweight title at UFC 314 last year, and then successfully defended it for the first time in his second reign at UFC 325 earlier this year, securing a dominant unanimous decision victory over Diego Lopes.
Following his recent defense, the Australian champion signed a new UFC contract. Should circumstances align favorably, fans could anticipate a highly anticipated clash between Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev in the latter half of 2026.