Movsar Evloev has won 20 fights, lost none and is about to take on Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title.
So how on earth is he still in the UFC?
That was the question UFC legend Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson put to Volk during a recent appearance on the Precision podcast with Israel Adesanya.
The Russian has won all 10 of his UFC fights, but has not finished a single one of them. No knockouts. No submissions. Ten wins on the judges’ scorecards.
UFC 333: Volkanovski v Evloev | SUN 25 OCTOBER 5AM AEDT | The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi where Volkanovski is seeking his 7th successful title defense in a highly anticipated match up against the undefeated Movsar Evloev. | Order now on Kayo Sports.
Johnson was stunned that a promotion so focused on entertainment had kept Evloev around without a finish, particularly after parting ways with Michael “Venom” Page.
“How the f*** is he still in the UFC?” Johnson asked.
“The UFC is so gung-ho about cutting people who aren’t exciting, no knockouts.
“They just got rid of MVP. He’s not knocking people out, but he’s doing some flashy sh*t in there.
“Movsar Evloev does know how to win. But no knockouts, not even a submission?”
Volk believes the Russian earned a shot at his belt some time ago. If anything, he suggested, Evloev’s failure to produce a finish has made his path to the title longer than it needed to be.
“That’s why he’s had to take the long road to the title,” Volkanovski said.
“He probably deserved it before now.”
The debate has followed Evloev into the build-up for UFC 333. He has beaten everyone put in front of him, yet much of the talk has been about the way he wins.
It was impossible to miss when he and Volk appeared together at a recent press conference. Evloev was booed repeatedly as he tried to answer questions, eventually snapping and telling the crowd to shut up.
Volk had the fans on his side, but admitted he found the scene a bit uncomfortable.
“I almost feel bad for the guy,” Volkanovski said.
“Like, I’m weird. Even when we were doing the press conference, everyone was booing him, and I’m feeling bad.
“The boos are meant to get in his head, and it’s getting more into my head than him, I reckon. I feel bad for the guy.
“A lot of people don’t like his style, which I guess I can understand in this sport, we know how it can be.
“But again, he’s took the long road. I’m a pretty easy champion. If he deserves it, let’s do it, and he does deserve it, so I’m glad it’s happening.”
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Volk is taking his career one fight at a time and said he will look closely at his health after UFC 333.
If he takes too much damage against Evloev, he could walk away.
“I’m in a position where I’m taking in the options,” Volkanovski said.
“All right, how is the health? The last fight, I was very vocal on that. I was like, ‘Look, if I take a lot of damage in that fight, I won’t fight. I’ll call it.’
“But I didn’t, and that’s the same with this. If I take a lot of damage in this fight, all right, we’ll call it a day. I’m not looking to regain the title right now.
“For me, cut damage. All right, I’m going to be happy. I’m done. I’m sort of taking each fight as I go, and I’m weighing those options. I’m choosing to keep going and going great.”