Volkanovski Knocks Out Evloev, Volkov Wins at UFC 333

Alexander Volkanovski stopped previously undefeated Movsar Evloev in the second round to retain his UFC featherweight title at UFC 333, while Alexander Volkov extended his winning streak to three with a unanimous decision over Rizvan Kuniev on the same card.

The featherweight title fight headlined Saturday's event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Volkanovski handed previously undefeated contender Movsar Evloev his first professional loss with a violent second-round technical knockout. Evloev entered the fight with a perfect 20-0 record and was six years younger than the champion, with wrestling many believed would finally end Volkanovski's run atop the division. Instead, it was Volkanovski pressing the action before stopping the Russian.

What Dana White Said About Volkanovski's Win

Dana White did not hide his admiration for the champion after the fight. "Incredible," White said during the UFC 333 post-fight press conference. "I mean, the guy is an absolute stud. Coming in and beating an undefeated, younger fighter." That reaction says plenty about where Volkanovski now sits in the pound-for-pound conversation. Beating a 20-0 wrestler who was supposed to represent a changing of the guard at 145 pounds, and doing it by finish rather than decision, is as clean a statement performance as a 37-year-old former two-division threat can make.

Volkov Keeps Climbing the Heavyweight Ladder

Alexander Volkov is making himself impossible to ignore at heavyweight. In a main-card heavyweight bout, Volkov defeated Rizvan Kuniev via unanimous decision to extend his current win streak to three straight fights. Volkov has now won seven of his last eight fights as he continues to climb the UFC heavyweight rankings. Dana White also offered his reaction to that performance, adding another data point to a division that has been unusually fluid at the top in recent years.

Betting Angle

Volkanovski's finish changes the shape of the featherweight betting market overnight. A champion who was being treated by some books as vulnerable to size and wrestling just answered that question in violent fashion, and expect his number to shorten in any future title-line conversation. On the heavyweight side, Volkov's three-fight streak and seven wins in eight outings make him one of the sharper value plays left in a division that keeps producing live underdogs. Bettors who have been fading aging contenders at heavyweight should take note that Volkov keeps finding ways onto the winning side of the ledger against solid competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who did Alexander Volkanovski beat at UFC 333?

Alexander Volkanovski defeated previously undefeated Movsar Evloev via second-round TKO at UFC 333 to retain his UFC featherweight title.

What was Movsar Evloev's record before UFC 333?

Movsar Evloev entered UFC 333 with a perfect 20-0 record before suffering his first professional loss to Alexander Volkanovski.

How did Alexander Volkov do at UFC 333?

Alexander Volkov defeated Rizvan Kuniev by unanimous decision at UFC 333, extending his win streak to three straight fights and improving to seven wins in his last eight.