Worry is growing over the potential next fight that Dana White and the UFC are setting for featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Volkanovski beat Diego Lopes in a vintage display at UFC 314 to begin his second reign on the 145-pound throne. For many, the Australian’s next step appeared clear — a defense against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev.
Evloev’s desired title shot is seen as long overdue by some. The Russian has won all nine of his UFC fights to date, with his latest wins coming over stiff competition in Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen, and Lopes.
But the promotion appears unwilling to grant an opportunity to the 31-year-old. Evloev will need to fight another contender, which he recently confirmed on social media.
Speculation over who Volkanovski will face instead is rampant, and not many agree with the leading candidate.
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With Evloev out of the picture for the time being, a rematch widely regarded as unwarranted and undeserved looks to be in the pipeline.
Volkanovski comfortably beat Yair Rodriguez via TKO in 2023 to defend the featherweight title for the fourth time. Despite the Mexican going 1-1 since, it seems the need for a Noche UFC main event has him at the top of the list to face ‘Alexander the Great’.
Those potential plans have been met with heavy backlash, and among those who would be bemused by Rodriguez receiving a shot is Lerone Murphy.
“That would be terrible for the division, for the sport,” Murphy said during an appearance on Submission Radio. “Realistically – not to say Yair is not a good fighter – but he’s lost about three or four title shots. He’s only had one win in three fights, and it was against a guy that’s unranked.
“It wouldn’t make sense. Personally, me being in the division, I would want a shot, but I know I probably need one more, as well, but I wouldn’t be against Movsar getting the shot.
“I believe out of everybody, if someone is going to get a shot, it would be Movsar or myself. We’re both undefeated fighters, fresh fighters, never challenged for the title, and never fought Volkanovski.
“You can’t put Yair back in there,” Murphy concluded.
UFC set to ignore Alexander Volkanovski’s opponent preference
Murphy isn’t the only fighter behind Evloev’s claim to a title shot. In fact, the featherweight champion himself wants to face the Russian.
Before reiterating the desire post-fight after regaining the title, Volkanovski explained why he wants to defend the gold against Evloev during an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“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.
“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.”
Despite his service as one of the UFC’s most dominant champions, Volkanovski evidently still doesn’t boast the power to select his opponents.
That will come as a disappointment to Evloev and his team, who seem less than pleased with the promotion’s apparent disregard for his recent run of wins and fighting style.