Each UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski and his coach are on board with Movsar Evloev getting the following title shot.
Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) reclaimed the featherweight title when he defeated Diego Lopes (27-6 MMA, 6-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in Saturday’s UFC 314 most important event at Kaseya Center from Miami.
Volkanovski’s head coach Joe Lopez is aware of Evloev’s (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) strong grappling skills, but thinks his star student will likely be too strong for him.
“I believe he’s a great wrestler, but he’s not a – what would you call him? He’s good at getting people down, but he doesn’t really do much with it once he gets them down,” Lopez told Submission Radio. “And that’s what I suppose makes him boring … So he just hangs on to them, and I don’t think he’s going to have the ability to hold onto Volk. Volk is just so strong, and his scrambling skills, and his jiu-jitsu and wrestling are one other level. Volk just picks things up, in the event you take a look at the the start of the camp, once we break things down, and we see what everybody’s really good at.
“So we’ve got Diego. Diego’s got a reasonably good guard. The best way he switches from armbars to triangles to sweeps, he’s superb at. He’s got a very good repertoire there, and originally with the fellows that we had, Volk was getting stuck in there. (But) by the top of the camp, Volk was not having any problems in any respect in those positions, and I believe that’s what Diego felt when Alex took him down – that it’s not a spot he desires to be with Alex on top of him because like I said, Alex’s pressure when he’s on top, he seems like a heavyweight on top of you, after which he just doesn’t hang onto you. He’s just seeking to land some bombs or an elbow or something on you. So, you don’t need to be on the underside when Alex is on top.”
With Volkanovski promising to make a fast turnaround to face Evloev with a win over Lopes, the undefeated contender expects the brand new champion to live as much as his promise.
“Congratulations on a wonderful performance, you’re a real champion! Now let’s see what your word is price! @alexvolkanovski #UFC314.”
Congratulations on a wonderful performance, you’re a real champion! Now let’s see what your word is price! @alexvolkanovski #UFC314
— Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC) April 13, 2025
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