It remains unclear who will be the first to challenge the second reign of UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
This comes after Volkanovski beat Diego Lopes at UFC 314 in April to return to the throne at 145 pounds following a difficult period for him.
Volkanovski’s knockout losses to current rivals Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria had left many concluding that the Australian’s time at the top on MMA’s biggest stage was over.
But ‘Alexander the Great’ proved them wrong with a vintage performance against the charging Lopes in Miami. And he’ll now look to repeat that display when he returns to defend the gold.
In terms of Volkanovski’s next opponent, many believe the meritocratic choice is obvious.
Ali Abdelaziz slams UFC for snubbing Movsar Evloev as Alexander Volkanovski’s next challenger
Not many fighters have built a winning run like Movsar Evloev and not been rewarded with a title shot.
The undefeated Russian has won all eight of his UFC fights, most recently against elite competition in Lopes, Arnold Allen, and Aljamain Sterling.
But a supposedly unentertaining style and the absence of finishes inside the Octagon appear to have made the UFC want to avoid putting Evloev opposite Volkanovski.
That, the featherweight contender’s manager Ali Abdelaziz says, should not be allowed.
“It’s illegal for him not to be fighting next for the title because who’s above him, right?” Abdelaziz said to ESPN MMA.
“It’s crazy this guy is not even in the conversation. … They say he needs one more.”
What Alexander Volkanovski said about fighting Movsar Evloev
Should the UFC remain firm on their alleged anti-Evloev stance, they would be going against the wishes of Volkanovski.
The Australian is keen to test himself against the unbeaten 31-year-old, as he sees the potential matchup as a further chance to enhance his already illustrious legacy in the sport.
Even before having his return to champion status confirmed, Volkanovski outlined his plans to target Evloev, whom he branded “definitely deserving” of the next opportunity.
“I’m telling you that I’m gonna go out there and I’m gonna win the belt and I’ll call out [Evloev] so he can probably wait if he wants to,” Volkanovski said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“I’m winning that title and I’ll fight him three months later. Tell me the date that we can do it and I’ll call the shots that night.
“I think Movsar is definitely deserving.”
Nevertheless, Dana White and the UFC would seem to require more convincing, perhaps in the form of yet another contenders’ fight for Evloev.