Unbeaten Evloev targets first UFC finish as he challenges Volkanovski for featherweight title at UFC 333

Movsar Evloev walks into the biggest fight of his career at UFC 333 this Saturday in Abu Dhabi with an unblemished 20-0 professional record, 10-0 inside the UFC, and not a single finish to his name in the promotion. That could all change when he challenges two-time featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Evloev has built his title shot the hard way, grinding out victories over ranked opponents including Lerone Murphy, Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen, and Diego Lopes — the last of whom leapfrogged him in the queue and went on to face Volkanovski twice. Despite the lack of stoppages, Evloev believes his run of results speaks for itself.

“I have zero finishes in the UFC, but I’m still in the UFC and I’m fighting for the title, so that means that not just finishes is important,” Evloev told MMA Fighting. “To show a good fight is also important. Even if you have no finishes, you can show good fight, exciting fight. You can show the beauty of wrestling.”

The Russian fighter acknowledges that his style may have contributed to the matchmakers taking longer to hand him a title shot, but insists he has been developing his finishing ability. He is not ruling out a stoppage against Volkanovski.

“Now, I feel like I’m getting better and I’ve got more abilities to finish the fights and we were working on that since I won my last fight,” he said. “Now, maybe my first finish in my first title fight, why not? I have everything to do that.”

Volkanovski has publicly questioned whether Evloev’s wrestling-heavy approach will be sufficient to dethrone him, suggesting the challenger will need to engage in a more open exchange at some point. Evloev is not taking the bait, preferring to trust the tactics that have delivered ten consecutive UFC wins.

The fight also arrives against a broader backdrop of roster management debate in the UFC. Evloev referenced the recent departure of undefeated prospect Farid Basharat — released despite a 16-0 record — as evidence that finishes alone do not determine a fighter’s standing with the promotion.

“There are so many good fans who know MMA and they understand,” Evloev said, “and maybe because of them I’m still in the UFC.”

With a title on the line and a finish potentially within reach, Evloev arrives in Abu Dhabi with every reason to push beyond his usual blueprint.