Volk says he'll end it within 5 rounds

Unbeaten Evloev vows to dominate all 25 minutes

Featherweight title on the line at UFC 333 on Sunday

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (left) strikes a Hadouken pose with Beau Ryan at the Australian premiere of "Street Fighter" in Sydney on Thursday. [Getty Images]
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (left) strikes a Hadouken pose with Beau Ryan at the Australian premiere of "Street Fighter" in Sydney on Thursday. [Getty Images]

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski of Australia and unbeaten Russian challenger Movsar Evloev are trading barbs over how their title fight will end.

The two meet in the main event of UFC 333 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Sunday (Korean Standard Time).

In an interview with North American MMA outlet MMA Junkie on Sunday, Volkanovski said he was confident he would finish Evloev before the final bell. "I trust my skills and I trust where I'm at right now. I think I can win in a pretty spectacular fashion," he said. "He says he wants a decision, but I'm going to get the finish — within five rounds, no doubt."

He added that the bout would rank among his finest performances. "When it's all said and done, people are going to be asking if that was the best Volkanovski they've ever seen," he said.

Volkanovski acknowledged Evloev's wrestling ability but insisted it would not work against him. He said Evloev would try to grab and take him down, but that it would not happen — and that he planned to draw the fight into a striking exchange and secure a finish.

Volkanovski had earlier said no fighter could dominate him for 25 minutes and earn a decision win.

In response, Evloev told MMA Junkie on Friday that he had originally planned to go for a finish — but that Volkanovski's comments had changed his mind. "Now I don't want to finish him. I want to prove he's nothing special," Evloev said. "I can beat him for all five rounds."

Evloev is undefeated in 20 professional bouts. Since joining the UFC in 2019, he has beaten Diego Lopes, Arnold Allen, Aljamain Sterling and Lerone Murphy in succession. However, all 10 of his UFC victories have come by decision — he has yet to record a knockout or submission win.

Movsar Evloev, who challenges champion Volkanovski for the featherweight title. [Getty Images]
Movsar Evloev, who challenges champion Volkanovski for the featherweight title. [Getty Images]

Evloev had told MMA Fighting in a recent interview that the title fight could be his first UFC finish. But after Volkanovski said no one could beat him by decision over 25 minutes, Evloev shifted course and said he would prove his worth by going the distance instead.

Volkanovski is a veteran with a 28-4 record. Since reclaiming the featherweight title, he has beaten Diego Lopes twice by decision. He is also looking for his first finish since 2023.

Volkanovski has floated the idea of a superfight with lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, 37, of the United States if he wins Sunday's defense — with both men retiring afterward.

He appeared on the podcast "Who the F*** Are These Guys?" and proposed a lightweight title fight against Gaethje, suggesting the bout serve as the final appearance for both fighters before they leave the octagon and hand the competitive landscape of their respective divisions over to the next generation.

Volkanovski challenged then-lightweight champion Islam Makhachev twice in 2023 but lost both times. A fight with Gaethje would be his third attempt at the lightweight title.


yjc@heraldcorp.com