Alexander Volkanovski\u2019s coach wants it to be very clear: they want Movsar Evloev next \u2026 even though no one was particularly impressed with Evloev\u2019s win over Lerone Murphy at UFC London.<\/p>\n
Evloev and Murphy engaged in what was widely seen as a featherweight title eliminator bout, although the UFC never committed to the winner getting a shot. Even after Evloev won a close decision<\/a> that many saw as a draw,<\/a> UFC CEO Dana White never used a stronger word than \u2019possibly\u2019<\/a> to describe whether Movsar would fight for the title next.<\/p>\n But Volkanovski coach Joe Lopez says that\u2019s who they want, even though he agrees the fight was probably a draw.<\/p>\n \u201cRealistically, I judge the fight a draw,\u201d he told Submission Radio. \u201cBut I\u2019m glad it didn\u2019t end up a draw because then we\u2019d probably get [Diego] Lopes 3. So I\u2019m glad that didn\u2019t happen. I\u2019m glad Movsar got on top. He\u2019s been hanging there for a long time. We\u2019re glad for that matchup.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez thinks it would have been a bigger blowout if Evloev hadn\u2019t kept it on the feet to make a more exciting fight for UFC management.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve heard things in the background that they\u2019ve told him, or maybe he just thought to himself, \u2018Look, they\u2019re not gonna give me a go unless I stand and bang,\u2019\u201d Lopez said. \u201cAnd, yeah, that\u2019s what he tried to do for the first three rounds. And then, obviously, when he wanted to take him down, he took him down pretty easily.\u201d<\/p>\n Will that be enough for the undefeated Russian to get a title shot? Especially with the much more exciting Jean Silva hanging around<\/a> declaring he\u2019s the real No. 1 contender?<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the deserving one,\u201d Lopez said of Evloev. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of Jean Silva or whatever his name is barking on like the little dog that he is in the background, trying to make a a lot of noise to make himself think he\u2019s the next one. But he\u2019s not deserving. You know? There\u2019s still [Aljamain Sterling] and a lot of guys above him. He\u2019s got to earn his spot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think because you make a lot of noise you\u2019re gonna get it, because you\u2019re not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet him have one or two more fights, and then we\u2019ll have a look,\u201d Volk\u2019s coach concluded. \u201cBut yeah, he\u2019s not ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Volkanovski is now in the strange position of having to defend his desire<\/a> to fight the No. 1 contender, who is 20-0 and on a 10 fight UFC win streak, over Jean Silva, who is 1-1 in his last two.<\/p>\n