{"id":908705,"date":"2026-09-28T15:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T15:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/908705\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T15:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T15:34:11","slug":"ufcs-movsar-evloev-shares-little-known-fact-before-alexander-volkanovski-title-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/908705\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC’s Movsar Evloev Shares Little-Known Fact Before Alexander Volkanovski Title Fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

UFC featherweight title challenger Movsar Evloev has an opportunity to usher in a new era at 145 pounds next month when he headlines UFC 333<\/a> against champion Alexander Volkanovski.<\/a><\/p>\n

Evloev earned a title shot at featherweight after also spending time at bantamweight. Entering the fight, the undefeated 20-0 Russian superstar has been open about how much he respects Volkanovski as a former training partner<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a bantamweight,” Evloev told MMAFighting via Red Corner MMA. <\/a>“We trained at the same gym and did a couple of rounds together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evloev said Volkanovski’s mutual respect is humbling, as is the way the Australian carries himself as a two-time titleholder.<\/p>\n

\u201cVolk is not fake,” Evloev said. “He\u2019s the real one. He\u2019s the champ, and he deserves to be there. And I do too.”<\/p>\n

Alexander Volkanovski Pays Respect To Movsar Evloev Ahead of UFC 333\"Alexander<\/p>\n

Apr 12, 2025; Miami, Florida, UNITED STATES; Alexander Volkanovski (red gloves) is introduced before his match against Diego Lopes (not pictured) during UFC 314 at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Volkanovski himself wasn’t quick to forget their training camp encounters either.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I know a few of the people he knows as well, so there\u2019s no ill feeling toward each other,” Volkanovski told MMAFighting.<\/a> “He\u2019s a good dude; I\u2019ve got a lot of respect for him, but come Oct. 24, we\u2019re going to go handle business,and I plan on showing him that I\u2019m the man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Volkanovski said age doesn’t bother him, but rather UFC fans’ opinions about what he may have left to offer in MMA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI truly do believe after this fight, people will be saying, \u2018That\u2019s one of Alex\u2019s best performances we\u2019ve seen,\u2019\u201d Volkanovski said. \u201cDoes that mean I\u2019m in my prime? Does that mean this is the best Volk that there ever was? No, I\u2019m not saying that, but I\u2019m saying stylistically in the fight I\u2019m going to bring, I truly believe people will be saying that this is the best version of Alex they\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evloev expects the best version of Volkanovski., too, making the fight a potential can’t-miss come late October.<\/p>\n

Movsar Evloev Sees Huge Opening Entering Alexander Volkanovski Fight\"Movsar<\/p>\n

Jun 12, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Movsar Evloev during UFC 263 at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

“I used to beat champions before UFC and when I beat them, people used to say, \u2018OK, they wasn\u2019t that good like before. Maybe they get old or did not have good camps.\u2019 But I don\u2019t want to hear this one again, so I want him to be in his prime, in the best condition, so I can show my skills,” Evloev added.<\/p>\n

The fight will be contested across a scheduled five-rounder, part of a stacked championship double-header where Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili will settle their trilogy <\/a>for Yan’s bantamweight title.<\/p>\n

For now, though, the anticipation keeps building.<\/p>\n

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