After earning two more wins in 2024, Movsar Evloev has now accumulated nine consecutive victories inside the Octagon.
The undefeated Russian has his mind on one specific opponent and he's prepared to chase him up the weight classes if he needs to.
Evloev is currently ranked as the #4 contender in the featherweight division following recent wins over Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen and Diego Lopes.
Whilst he's certainly in the mix to be the next title challenger alongside the likes of Alexander Volkanovski and his former opponent Lopes, it appears that the current champion has other plans.
Ilia Topuria has spoken about moving up to lightweight a lot recently and that has Evloev confused about what will be next:
“To be honest, it’s not easy to even understand what’s going on,” Evloev told MMA Fighting. “Because Max [Holloway] said he will not come back to featherweight again. So Ilia’s talking that he’s moving up, also, especially after my fight. I don’t know what’s going on. For me, it doesn’t matter who will be my next opponent.”
Though he's happy to face anyone that the UFC puts in front of him, Topuria is certainly an opponent that he wants to face off with at some stage.
He said that even if the champion loses his undefeated record by moving up to 155-pounds, "El Matador" is a name that he wants on his record.
“Even if the champion moves up, he will leave the title. I will get the title and then I will follow him,” Evloev said. “Lightweight is not too far for me.
“Even if he moves up, I will take the belt first because this is my first goal. So then I will go after him, even if he goes to middleweight. It doesn’t matter. He’s not a big guy. I don’t need to cut the weight to beat this guy. I need his head on my list. Belt is first but I don’t think that he will leave the title. He’s not going to go to lightweight. He will defend his belt soon, I don’t know when but we’ll see.”
Topuria had an incredible 2024 and though Evloev has a lot of respect for the newest UFC superstar, he believes that he has his number.
“He’s a great fighter but he’s not an unbeatable fighter,” Evloev said about Topuria. “I’m that guy who can beat this guy. Just make the fight between me and him and I will prove my words."
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