Volkanovski Stops Evloev to Keep UFC Title
Alexander Volkanovski continued to defy age by knocking out undefeated challenger Movsar Evloev in the second round to defend his UFC featherweight title for the second time this year at UFC 333 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The Volkanovski Evloev UFC 333 main event ended at 4:54 of the second round.
The 38-year-old Australian improved his professional record to 29 wins and four defeats after stopping Evloev at 4:54 of the second round. Volkanovski dropped his Russian opponent with a left hook-right cross combination before landing a series of unanswered ground strikes to secure the finish.
Volkanovski had warned that he would consider retirement if he suffered too much damage against the 32-year-old challenger. His victory marked his first stoppage since July 2023 and further strengthened his claim to being the greatest featherweight in UFC history.
Volkanovski Evloev UFC 333: How the Finish Came
Evloev entered the contest with an unbeaten UFC record of 10-0 since joining the promotion in 2019, having secured notable victories over former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and Diego Lopes. He was, on paper, the sternest test of Volkanovski’s second title reign.
The finish came late in the second round. Volkanovski caught Evloev with a left hook-right cross combination that dropped the challenger, then followed up with ground strikes that went unanswered until the referee stepped in at 4:54. It was a decisive end to a fight that had promised to go much longer, and it gave Volkanovski his first stoppage win in more than three years.
Volkanovski praised Evloev’s ability and suggested he would continue fighting as long as he avoided significant damage. “He’s a great fighter; he was undefeated for a reason,” Volkanovski said. “I’m just the right guy for that job. I choose to do this. I said if I didn’t take too much damage, we’d probably keep going. So, maybe we’ll keep going.”
What the Win Means for Volkanovski’s Future
Volkanovski became the first fighter over 35 to win a UFC title below 170 pounds in 2025, and he has proposed a farewell lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje, who won the 155-pound belt at 37 in June against Ilia Topuria. That proposal, floated before UFC 333, depended on Volkanovski getting past Evloev first. He has now done so, and the Gaethje idea moves from a talking point to a live option.
The win also settles the immediate question about his future. A defeat, or a damaging war, might have pushed him towards retirement. A second-round stoppage, with limited damage taken, points the other way. Volkanovski’s own words after the fight made that clear: if he stays healthy, he keeps going.
The stoppage also answered the durability question that followed Volkanovski into the fight. At 38, he had spoken openly about retirement if he took too much damage against a younger, unbeaten challenger. Instead, he finished the bout in the second round, took limited punishment, and left the octagon talking about what comes next rather than what ends here. That outcome keeps every option open, from another featherweight defence to the proposed farewell bout at lightweight.
For Evloev, the defeat ends an unbeaten UFC run that stretched back to 2019. He remains one of the division’s leading contenders, but he must now rebuild after his first loss inside the octagon. For Volkanovski, the record now reads 29 wins and four defeats, with a second title defence of the year secured in Abu Dhabi.
How did Volkanovski beat Evloev?
Volkanovski dropped Evloev with a left hook-right cross combination in the second round, then landed unanswered ground strikes. The referee stopped the fight at 4:54 of round two.
What is Volkanovski’s record now?
The win improved Volkanovski’s professional record to 29 wins and four defeats. It was his first stoppage since July 2023.
Will Volkanovski fight Justin Gaethje next?
Volkanovski has proposed a farewell lightweight title fight against Gaethje, who won the 155-pound belt at 37 in June against Ilia Topuria. The UFC has not confirmed the bout.
What was Evloev’s record before the fight?
Evloev entered the contest unbeaten in the UFC at 10-0 since joining the promotion in 2019, with wins over Aljamain Sterling and Diego Lopes.
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