Alex Volkanovski knows he is no longer in his physical prime.

But the Aussie UFC superstar believes his next performance could have everyone wondering whether he is.

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Volkanovski will defend his featherweight crown against undefeated Russian Movsar Evloev in the main event of UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 25 AEDT, in what shapes as another enormous test of just how long the soon to be 38-year-old can continue operating at the top of the sport.

And despite the inevitable questions surrounding his age, Volk is predicting the type of performance that could make them disappear – at least for a while.

“I believe I get to go out there at 38 years old and fight a perfect fight, where people are going to think, ‘What?! This guy’s still got another 10 years left in him!’” Volkanovski told Main Event.

“Which probably isn’t the case, but I honestly think that’s going to be the conversation after I get the job done.”

Alex Volkanovski and Movsar EvloevSource: FOX SPORTS

Volk is already considered by many to be the greatest featherweight in UFC history and is now attempting to add another chapter to an incredible second reign as champ.

Evloev is unbeaten in 20 pro fights and has built his rise through the featherweight division largely on the back of his wrestling and an ability to control opponents.

Volk, though, believes that game plan won’t work against him.

“I want to fight the best,” Volkanovski said.

“Don’t come to me with your half-ass, ‘I don’t want to wrestle because I want to entertain.’ No. That ain’t happening.

“I want to fight the best. I’ve always wanted to fight the best. I wanted the biggest challenge.

“For me, stylistically, I think it’s a great fight for me, and I don’t think it’s the craziest challenge for me.

“But he’s the best guy, who deserves it, and I’m the champ that fights the best guys.”

Volk believes Evloev’s greatest strength could eventually become a problem against him.

He expects the Russian to hunt takedowns early, but is backing his own defensive wrestling to shut those attempts down.

And according to Volk, it could reach a point where Evloev’s best chance of winning is abandoning the wrestling altogether and trying to knock him out.

“He doesn’t have the knockout power threat,” Volkanovski said.

“But, in saying that, because I’m so confident in my takedown defence, in my game, that his best bet is to knock me out.

“A lot of people are like, ‘He’s going to just try and wrestle.’ That’s gonna be thrown out the window after one or two rounds.

“He’s gonna be getting too tired to want to keep trying to take me down.

“So literally, I believe he’d be better off just swinging and trying to catch me. Honestly, that’s what I truly believe.

“No one in my division can beat me in a decision. And I know that seems to be the only way he wins, but against me that ain’t happening. I truly do believe that.”

Volk previews upcoming Movsar clash | 13:41

Volk went even further when breaking down exactly how he expects the fight to unfold.

“I think it’s pretty obvious what I’ll do to Movsar,” he said.

“Movsar’s gonna want to shoot. He knows how to win, he knows how to get the fight where he wants it, but that just ain’t gonna happen with me.

“Movsar will look for the takedown. It ain’t gonna work.

“Even if he does get my back to the mat, I’m bouncing straight back up. I’m breaking free, I’m in his face, and I’m gonna be putting hands on him.

“I truly do believe I’m going to put it on Movsar.”

Of course, not everyone is convinced.

Volk’s age has become an increasingly big part of the conversation surrounding the final years of his career.

And even former rival Islam Makhachev believes it will count against him at UFC 333.

The UFC welterweight champ, who shared the Octagon with Volk twice, recently tipped Evloev to dethrone the Aussie, arguing the undefeated Russian’s youth will prove decisive.

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Volk’s camp sees things a little differently.

Coach Joe Lopez recently told Fox Sports Australia that Evloev is actually an “ideal match-up” for the Australian, backing the Windang legend’s defensive grappling to squash the Russian’s biggest weapon.

And judging by Volk’s own prediction for UFC 333, fighter and coach are very much on the same page.

“You will definitely be saying, ‘This, honestly, looks like Volk in his prime,’” Volkanovski said.

“I honestly believe headlines are going to be — that narrative after this fight.

“Is it because I’m in my prime? No. It’s because that’s the fight; that’s how that fight is going to play out.

“I think that this is the perfect matchup for me, where I get to go out there and shine, probably greater than I’ve shined in there.

“This could be one of my great performances — at 38 years old.

“Which is pretty cool.”