Alexander Volkanovski expects Movsar Evloev to be next opponent, bout confirmation soon

Alexander Volkanovski is preparing for what appears to be an inevitable featherweight title defense against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev, though the UFC has not yet officially announced the bout.

Volkanovski, the reigning UFC featherweight champion, is coming off his second consecutive decision victory over Diego Lopes at UFC 325 in February. The Russian grappler Evloev, who maintains a perfect 20-0 record, is widely expected to receive the next title shot. "It's not locked in, but it's pretty obvious it's probably going to be Movsar," Volkanovski said in a recent vlog, adding that he is already focusing his training camp on wrestling preparation.

Evloev's path to title contention has been unconventional despite his undefeated record. The 30-year-old has recorded no finishes across his 10 UFC appearances but has compiled an impressive resume that includes victories over Lerone Murphy, Aljamain Sterling, and Lopes—the latter fighter having earned two previous title opportunities. Injuries and a lack of knockout power have somewhat delayed his ascent to the championship picture.

With numbered UFC events scheduled for October, November, and December, the promotion has multiple potential dates to slot the championship matchup before year's end. Volkanovski indicated he is already ramping up his preparation, training in Thailand and positioning himself as though the fight is imminent. "Still nothing confirmed, but the dates I'm thinking, I need to start getting ready so we're playing as if it's game on," Volkanovski explained. "We should get confirmation soon though."