Jose Aldo: UFC Should Cut Movsar Evloev If He Loses at 333

Jose Aldo says the UFC should cut Movsar Evloev if he loses his featherweight title shot against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333, calling the undefeated contender a fighter who "doesn't sell" despite his No. 1 ranking.

Evloev challenges Volkanovski in the UFC 333 main event this Saturday after beating Lerone Murphy in March to lock up the shot. He had been widely viewed as the true No. 1 contender since he beat Aljamain Sterling back in late 2024, but he sat out most of last year with an injury before returning to face Murphy.

Why Jose Aldo Wants Evloev Cut

Jose Aldo argues that rankings alone shouldn't guarantee a title shot, and that Movsar Evloev's style and inactivity make him a liability to the promotion regardless of his undefeated record. "The UFC isn't just an organization that has to follow a ranking system," Aldo told MMAFighting.com. "It's a business, it's entertainment... I'd wait for him to lose for the first time and then cut him because he's a guy who doesn't sell, a guy who puts on boring fights, a guy who doesn't draw attention, who just stays inactive."

Aldo's comments reflect a real tension in how the UFC has handled its roster in recent years. Winning records haven't always been enough to keep fighters employed or featured if they aren't moving pay-per-view buys or generating buzz, and Aldo is essentially predicting Evloev could become a cautionary example if Saturday doesn't go his way.

What It Means for Evloev's Title Shot

None of this matters if Movsar Evloev beats Alexander Volkanovski, and that outcome is very much live. The UFC 333 main event is shaping up as close to a true pick'em on the betting boards, which tells you oddsmakers see this as a genuine toss-up between the champion's power and the challenger's wrestling-heavy control game. Volkanovski remains one of the sport's great champions, but Evloev's size, grappling pressure and takedown volume give him a real path to a decision win even if he never threatens a finish.

For bettors, that's the core tension in this matchup. Evloev's game is built on control time and output rather than highlight finishes, which is exactly the style Aldo is criticizing off the back of the microphone, but it's also the style that has made him 100 percent in UFC competition. A close, grinding fight favors the live underdog on the scorecards, and sharp money may lean toward live-dog value on Evloev rather than laying heavy chalk on the champion. If Evloev wins, Aldo's argument evaporates. If he loses, this fight becomes the first real referendum on how much style points matter to UFC matchmaking at the top of a division.

The stakes for Saturday now carry weight beyond the belt itself. A win cements Evloev as featherweight's new standard. A loss, according to Aldo, could end his run in the promotion regardless of the record he built getting there.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Jose Aldo say about Movsar Evloev?

Jose Aldo said that if he were UFC president, he would cut Movsar Evloev the moment he loses a fight, arguing Evloev is a fighter who doesn't sell tickets or draw attention despite his No. 1 ranking at featherweight.

Who is Movsar Evloev fighting at UFC 333?

Movsar Evloev challenges Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight championship in the UFC 333 main event, with oddsmakers treating the fight as close to a pick'em.

Is Movsar Evloev undefeated?

Yes, Movsar Evloev entered his UFC 333 title shot undefeated, having most recently beaten Lerone Murphy in March after previously defeating Aljamain Sterling in late 2024.