Volkanovski Defends Featherweight Belt Against 20-0 Evloev as 38-Year-Old Champion Weighs Retirement
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Oct 23
Volkanovski Defends Featherweight Belt Against 20-0 Evloev as 38-Year-Old Champion Weighs Retirement
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Oct 23
Summary
38-year-old Alexander Volkanovski enters Saturday's UFC 333 title defense in Abu Dhabi saying any fight could be his last, a sharper retirement stance than in past camps.
20-0 Movsar Evloev brings a perfect 10-0 UFC record, but his lack of finishes has left him a slight betting underdog despite being one of the division's most proven challengers.
Volkanovski, 28-4, says Evloev's grappling-heavy style suits him and believes his striking, scrambling and fight IQ can make him look "better than ever" even outside his prime.
ESPN research underscores the age risk: male UFC fighters 38 and older have won just 37% of their bouts, even as Volkanovski already became the first over-35 champion under 170 pounds in 2025.
UFC 333 also features a bantamweight co-main event with Merab Dvalishvili trying to regain his title from Petr Yan after losing their December rematch while injured.