Movsar Evloev sees a transparent path to a UFC title, and he’s not going to let a pair of legends get in his means.
The undefeated featherweight meets Aljamain Sterling in a pivotal matchup on the preliminary portion of UFC 310 this Saturday in Las Vegas. At media day on Wednesday, Evloev (18-0) was requested if he was involved about former champion Alexander Volkanovski leapfrogging him within the contender line for a rematch with Ilia Topuria even when Evloev is victorious.
“I don’t assume that’s a good suggestion [for Topuria] to struggle with Volkanovski once more,” Evloev stated. “Volkanovski’s a legend, however he’s finished, and Max Holloway additionally. They’ve been good fighters for a very long time, however time is gone. Contemporary blood is right here, so let me show that I’m champion.”
Topuria’s title struggle wins have come towards Volkanovski and Holloway, two of the perfect featherweights ever who grew to become perennial fan favorites with their spectacular performances. Since Topuria defeated Holloway in October, no concrete plans have been made for the champion to compete once more, although he has campaigned for the UFC to e-book him for a stadium present in Spain.
Regardless of Evloev going undefeated in eight UFC fights, he’s but to encourage the identical sort of fervor within the MMA group. He hasn’t defeated an opponent inside the gap since July 2018 at an M-1 International present, his final struggle earlier than signing with the UFC.
So does he really feel he wants a end?
“All people speaking about end, end,” Evloev stated. “OK, in the event you want end, attempt to end me. So I believe for this struggle, I’ll do one thing. We’re getting ready for this virtually one 12 months since I received my struggle in January and this man is an effective opponent to do what I’m attempting to do.”
As a lot as he feels he’s worthy of a title shot, Evloev prioritizes staying lively above all else. Evloev most lately fought this previous January at UFC 297, the place he defeated Arnold Allen, and his struggle with Sterling was pushed again from UFC 307 in October to accommodate Sterling coping with a lingering harm.
If Evloev has to struggle once more earlier than taking up Topuria, he’s completely satisfied to do it.
“I used to be ready for this struggle virtually a 12 months,” Evloev stated. “So in the event that they don’t let me struggle for the title, please give me somebody in two months after this struggle as a result of my time is—I’m already 30 years outdated, so I must struggle typically, as a result of the final couple of years I struggle not typically, so I want extra fights. Your time will go, so it’s good for my profession. [Diego Lopes], Volkanovski, Holloway, anybody earlier than they let me struggle for the title.”
Evloev additionally stated he wasn’t involved about his placement on Saturday’s card. A lot has been made concerning the high-level featherweight contest being scheduled for the preliminary card, with Sterling vowing to show the UFC “tousled huge time” by not placing his struggle on pay-per-view.
The controversy is misplaced on Evloev.
“I believe we’re on prelims due to him, however I don’t care,” Evloev stated. “Similar cash, no person care. Possibly even higher to remain on prelims for this card as a result of extra folks will watch our struggle. And on the time, folks will have the ability to discover out who’s the following contender for the bout.”
“I don’t know,” Evloev added. “I don’t assume this struggle might be boring, as a result of his fashion and my fashion, when two wrestlers struggle one another, it’s all the time an excellent struggle.”
Wherever he’s on the lineup, Evloev expects his supporters to tune in.
“Individuals confused about this as a result of we’re not on the primary card,” Evloev stated. “I can perceive that, however I don’t actually care. This is identical, three rounds, 5 minutes. Similar cash. Similar man. Once I step within the cage, I see nothing outdoors, so I’m centered on my opponent. For me, it doesn’t matter.”
“For my folks, it’s not a giant distinction,” he continued. “They may root for me anyway even when I struggle on the road.”
