Alexander Volkanovski is very confident coming into his featherweight title fight against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333.
Volkanovski has been stumping for this matchup against the extremely tough but not very dynamic Evloev who has 10 wins in the UFC, all by decision. Evloev never hesitates to spam takedowns and go for a control-based win, something that might have worked against other opponents … but not Volkanovski, according to Volkanovski.
“He better bring his very best game,” the Australian champ told MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun. “However he thinks he can win, come and do it. No disrespect to him, but I believe that where he’s so strong and so good with everyone else, I believe that’s not where he can beat me. Trying to out-grapple me for 25 minutes? I can’t see it.”
“I believe that the only chance that any of these guys have is for them to catch me,” he continued. “I say that about all my opponents. If he thinks he can beat me by decision or he thinks he can out-grapple me, I’m sure he’s gonna try. We’ll see. I’m just very confident in my skills and the fighter I still am. I think I can get my hand raised and I think I can do it in pretty wild fashion.”
“I believe I can get a finish,” he clarified. “I believe I can do it inside five. He’s saying maybe he can do it with a decision. I’m saying maybe I can finish him inside the five rounds, for sure. Again, great opponent. Great skill. I just think it’s going to be one of my best performances.”
“A lot of people are going to go out there after this fight and say, ‘Is that the best Volk we’ve ever seen?’”
Considering Movsar Evloev is considered one of the toughest challenges in the division, that’s a tall order for Alexander Volkanovski. “The Great” is now 38 years old, on the wrong side of the dreaded age where champions can’t seem to hold onto their belts below lightweight. Volk has been the exception to this rule thus far. Can he do it again on October 24th at UFC 333?