Alexander Volkanovski has set his sights on a possible retirement superfight with fellow UFC star and lightweight champion Justin Gaethje after delivering a spectacular second-round TKO against unbeaten Russian contender Movsar Evloev to retain his featherweight title.
Volkanovski headlined UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi and entered the contest as an underdog in some circles. However, the 38-year-old Australian produced a masterful performance against the younger No.1 contender on Sunday AEST.
After dropping Evloev with a series of sharp, damaging punches, Volkanovski unleashed a fierce ground-and-pound assault. Referee Marc Goddard stepped in with just six seconds left in the second round to bring the fight to an end.
During fight week, Volkanovski repeatedly claimed that his style would create major problems for Evloev and predicted he could secure an early finish.
The champion followed through on a wedding anniversary promise to his wife, producing the quick victory he had pledged. It was his first stoppage win in six fights dating back to 2023.
Volkanovski was reportedly dealing with illness before the bout, but dismissed concerns about his condition by saying he was “good enough to get out there and get it done.”
The victory also extended his record to nine UFC featherweight title-fight wins across two championship reigns, further cementing the Windang fighter’s legacy on the NSW South Coast.
Gaethje, who turns 38 next month, captured the lightweight championship last June at the UFC White House event by stopping reigning titleholder Ilia Topuria. Topuria was the fighter who brought Volkanovski’s first featherweight reign to an end.
Alexander Volkanovski (pictured) has welcomed the idea of a retirement superfight against fellow UFC superstar and lightweight champion Justin Gaethje
“Whether it’s both our retirement fight and we put it all on the line, that would be pretty cool — a bit of a superfight between two 38-year-olds going at it before leaving everything behind and letting the younger guys sort themselves out,” Volkanovski said.
“That’s something I would retire for. If they wanted to give me that opportunity, I’d retire whether I won or lost.”
Asked about the prospect of Volkanovski facing Gaethje, UFC president Dana White said the promotion would be reluctant to deny the Australian an opportunity after everything he has achieved.
“When you’ve accomplished what he has accomplished, there’s not much we’re going to say no to with him,” White said. “The guy is an absolute stud. To come in and beat an undefeated younger fighter … Volkanovski is incredible.”
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Volkanovski, now 29-4, made an aggressive start, connecting with several clean kicks and punches during the opening minutes.
Evloev, an elite wrestler with a 20-1 record, managed to take Volkanovski to the canvas three times late in the first round. Each time, however, the Australian quickly regained his feet.
The champion suffered a cut in the second round, but turned the momentum around in the closing moments by opening a wound on Evloev’s face with a barrage of precise, powerful punches.
Evloev, 32, had moments of success on the feet but could not sustain his pressure against the experienced champion, who successfully defended his title for the second time during his current reign.
Volkanovski kept hold of his featherweight title by stopping previously unbeaten Russian contender Movsar Evloev in the second round
A precise combination sent Evloev to the canvas, where Volkanovski followed with heavy ground-and-pound before referee Marc Goddard stopped the bout with six seconds remaining in the second round
“He’s like good wine — older, stronger and better. He’s truly a legend,” Evloev said.
In a thrilling co-main event, Russia’s Petr Yan retained the bantamweight world title with a unanimous points decision over Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili, beating him for the second time in three fights.
Yan, who has trained alongside Volkanovski in Thailand, suggested he could move up to featherweight to challenge the Australian, while Aljamain Sterling and Jean Silva could also be in contention for a title shot if the bout with Gaethje doesn’t eventuate.
In the prelims, Australians recorded a win and two losses against Russian opponents.
Volkanovski’s stablemate, bantamweight Colby Thicknesse, scored a third straight win and a big upset with a split decision victory over previously unbeaten Asaf Chopurov.
Middleweight Cam Rowston’s run of seven straight wins ended with a first-round guillotine choke submission loss to 12th-ranked Abus Magomedov of Russia and middleweight Jacob Malkoun’s three-fight win streak was snapped by a unanimous points loss to Abubakar Vagaev.