Movsar Evloev went 11 months between fights in 2024 so staying busy in 2025 is arguably most vital to him as he eyes a title shot within the close to future.
The undefeated Russian—at the moment No. 4 at featherweight within the MMA Preventing International Rankings with an ideal 19-0 document, together with 9 straight wins within the UFC—would love the prospect to problem for featherweight gold, however he additionally understands that’s most likely not subsequent for him. Whereas reigning champion Ilia Topuria has teased a possible transfer as much as light-weight, all indicators have pointed in direction of a rematch in opposition to Alexander Volkanovski as his subsequent title protection.
Whereas Evloev has the utmost respect for what Volkanovski did throughout his profession as champion, he actually believes his time has handed. He additionally is aware of the UFC should give him one other title shot regardless.
“They already fought and Volk misplaced to Ilia,” Evloev instructed MMA Preventing. “Now we now have new names within the featherweight division. It’s me at No. 4. You need to see the combat between Volk and Ilia or me and Ilia?
“After all [Volkanovski] is a legend. He’s been for a very long time however now he did sufficient. He was an ideal fighter for a very long time. Now we now have new blood, recent blood and I’ve sufficient energy and sufficient willingness to combat for the title. I do know the UFC respects Volkanovski a lot. So possibly he’ll be subsequent for the title if Ilia doesn’t depart the featherweight division. After him, who is aware of.”
Evloev is taking a barely totally different method in the case of his future as a result of he’s realized that gunning for larger ranked fighters may not even matter within the grand scheme of issues.
That’s another excuse why Evloev is as soon as once more open to the potential for going through Diego Lopes in a rematch regardless of already holding a win over him in Combat of the Night time efficiency again in 2023.
Lopes accepted that combat on extraordinarily brief discover and he’s been calling for an additional alternative to face Evloev ever since dropping that unanimous choice.
“Yeah, why not?” Evloev mentioned about going through Lopes once more. “This man has been spectacular after dropping to me and now he’s larger within the rankings. Why not him? Even when anyone decrease within the rankings, in the event that they get me to the title, it doesn’t matter how. As a result of I have to combat typically. I spent an excessive amount of time ready for anyone to combat. Like I mentioned, [it doesn’t] matter what rating you have got you probably have no title.
“Any considered one of them is an effective combat for me. A second combat with [Diego] Lopes or Volkanovski, he’s nonetheless an enormous title. He’s not in his prime, I believe, however he’s nonetheless sturdy and he’s an enormous title. Possibly after him, they are going to haven’t any alternative however to present me a title shot. That’s why I requested him to combat. I can come to his land Australia to combat him. It doesn’t matter when, the place, who, lastly simply give me the belt.”
The identical goes for former champion Max Holloway, who has said publicly he plans to go away featherweight to now compete within the light-weight division. He’s at the moment nonetheless ranked among the many prime fighters within the 145-pound division.
Evloev is aware of it’s extremely unlikely he’d get that combat however he’s simply exhibiting his willingness to face whoever the UFC throws at him now.
“We nonetheless have Max Holloway within the rankings even after he mentioned he’s not going to come back again to featherweight so why is he staying there?” Evloev mentioned.
“With out him, I’m No. 3. If he nonetheless needs to combat featherweight, his title can also be on my record. I need to combat him additionally as a result of he’s additionally an enormous legend, an enormous title. Possibly after him, they’ll additionally give me the title shot. It’s sophisticated. As a result of no one is aware of what’s occurring in featherweight. I’m not going wherever. I’m right here. We’ll see.”
Irrespective of the situation, Evloev simply hopes he can preserve a busier schedule in 2025 that finally ends with him getting a title shot.
“Whereas I’m ready [for a title shot], I can combat,” Evloev mentioned. “I can combat with anybody and I’m nonetheless ready for the title shot. Simply don’t freeze me [out], don’t let me look forward to the title with out no fights in any respect.”
