\n<\/p>\n
UFC 333 is still over a month and a half away, but the main event between featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Movsar Evloev is already heating up.<\/p>\n
Volk and Evloev have been circling each other for over a year, with \u201cThe Great\u201d calling for a match-up with the No. 1 contender repeatedly. Evloev\u2019s grappling style and inability to earn finishes saw him get passed over twice by Diego Lopes, but his time will finally come in Abu Dhabi on October 24th.<\/p>\n
In a new interview with MMA Junkie, the 32-year-old Evloev explained how he\u2019d be the one to knock the 37-year-old Volkanovski off his perch.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy skills are getting better,\u201d Evloev said. \u201cMy striking, everyone noticed, is a little bit better than I do before. We\u2019re confident to fight with a guy like Alex. We respect him. We\u2019ll respect him even after we beat him. Nothing but respect. But this is my time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Volkanovski has suggested he\u2019d knock back Evloev\u2019s takedown attempts and turn the fight into a striking battle. That\u2019s something Evloev laughed off.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been a little illogical,\u201d Evloev suggested. \u201cHe said, \u2018Don\u2019t you dare to strike.\u2019 And then, \u2018We\u2019ll be striking because I will make it striking fight.\u2019 I will do anything I want. Whenever I decide to take him down, I will take him down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not scared of his striking skills, too. He\u2019s great. But like I said, my time is coming. October 24th, everybody will see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Evloev sounded more than prepared to spam takedowns if Volkanovski\u2019s ability to get back up is as good as the Australian has suggested.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if he\u2019s right, I will take him down as much as needed,\u201d Evloev said. \u201cIf I need to take him down 100 times, even more, I will do it. It\u2019s just 25 minutes. I will enjoy each second of this time. Even if I need to take him down every second, I will do it. Nobody will stop me.\u201d<\/p>\n