As the mixed martial arts world turns its attention toward the highly anticipated showdown at UFC 333, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has issued a clear and confident warning to his upcoming challenger, the undefeated Movsar Evloev. While takedowns have long been the foundational cornerstone of Evloev’s remarkable rise and success inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the reigning champion believes that relying on wrestling alone will not be enough to capture the coveted title when the two elite athletes collide on October 24 in Abu Dhabi.
The stakes for the upcoming event are exceptionally high, not just for the division, but for the history books. Should Volkanovski successfully defend his crown against Evloev later this month, he will secure the record for the most championship wins in UFC featherweight history. Standing directly in the path of that historic milestone is a Russian contender who has thoroughly dominated everyone put in front of him since stepping foot inside the octagon.
Evloev currently boasts a spotless 10-0 record under the UFC banner, alongside a pristine 20-0 overall professional mixed martial arts career. A massive part of that dominance stems from his relentless and suffocating grappling style. Throughout his tenure in the promotion, Evloev has successfully landed a staggering 49 takedowns. Notably, 22 of those takedowns came across his high-profile matchups against elite divisional competition, including Lerone Murphy, Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen, and Diego Lopes. These statistics underscore a fighter who is not only capable of taking his opponents to the canvas, but one who possesses the technical proficiency to ground some of the best grapplers and strikers in the world.
Speaking to the media during the official UFC 333 media day, Volkanovski did not shy away from acknowledging the extraordinary credentials of his challenger. He openly praised the Russian’s grappling pedigree, recognizing why so many previous opponents have fallen short when the action hits the mat.
"Evloev has incredible wrestling," Volkanovski said during the media day session. "One of the best in the UFC, definitely the best in our division. But again, it’s just not enough for me, you know what I mean?"
To fully understand Volkanovski’s supreme confidence, one must look closely at his own storied history inside the cage. Over the past decade, the Australian standout has carved out a legendary resume, emerging victorious in 15 of his 18 UFC bouts. More importantly, when it comes to defending the takedown, Volkanovski has proven to be an extraordinarily difficult puzzle to solve. Across his entire featherweight career in the organization, he has only surrendered a total of 10 takedowns. Remarkably, even in the rare instances where opponents managed to take him down, Volkanovski still went on to win every single one of those matches, showcasing an unmatched ability to neutralize ground damage, scramble back to his feet, and turn the tide of the fight.
The only notable exception to his featherweight dominance came during his venture up to the lightweight division, where current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev managed to secure four takedowns during their fiercely contested first encounter. However, Volkanovski maintains that the specific dynamics of his matchup against Evloev at 145 pounds present an entirely different set of circumstances, going so far as to express supreme confidence in a pure grappling exchange.
"To be honest, I believe if we went five rounds of no strikes and just wrestling, grappling, I’ll beat him there," Volkanovski said of Evloev. "I truly do believe that. I think he’s got great wrestling, but when it comes to MMA and all that sort of stuff, it’s just not enough. I get to show that anyway."
Despite his bold assertions and his belief that his own grappling capabilities are often overlooked, Volkanovski was quick to clarify that his comments should not be mistaken for complacency. He is well aware of the unique and daunting challenges that Evloev brings to the table for UFC 333, and he is preparing for a grueling championship test in Abu Dhabi.
"But I mean, at the same time, I’ve got a lot of respect for him," Volkanovski said, balancing his competitive confidence with mutual respect for his opponent. "He’s a great fighter, great wrestler, but again, these things are not problems for me. Even if you get me there, I’m not going to panic. We know I’m going to get back to the feet and the damage that he’s going to try and do in those positions, it’s going to be impossible. As soon as he tries to do damage, he’s just going to lose me straight away. He’s going to try and hang on and that still won’t be enough."
For Evloev, the matchup represents the ultimate test of his career—an opportunity to dethrone one of the greatest featherweights of all time and claim the division’s crown while preserving his undefeated record. For Volkanovski, it is another chance to cement his legacy, break a historic record, and prove once again that well-rounded mixed martial arts mastery will always trump a singular, albeit elite, skill set.
As fight night approaches in Abu Dhabi, the psychological warfare and tactical assessments are fully underway. Volkanovski’s message to the challenger is crystal clear: while wrestling got Evloev to the championship doorstep, crossing that threshold and taking the belt away from the reigning champion will require far more than takedowns alone.
"And again, no knock to him, I’ve got a lot of respect for him," Volkanovski concluded, "but it’s just the guy that’s in front of him, and that’s me, and that’s what I’m going to bring."
