Dana White’s UFC accused of keeping Russian fighter away from championship fight after Miami PPV event

Rising UFC featherweight Movsar Evloev complains about Dana White and UFC keeping him away from challenging Alexander Volkanovski after UFC 314.

Dana White’s UFC accused of keeping Russian fighter away from championship fight after Miami PPV event

Movsar Evloev accuses UFC of preventing him from fighting Alexander Volkanovski (via X/Imago)

The UFC featherweight division is undoubtedly one of the most competitive divisions in the company, with elite talents all around. The division is filled with rising contenders such as Movsar Evloev, who are absolutely desperate to get their hands on the title. Recently, the division saw the resurgence of former champion Alexander Volkanovski, who is now back on the throne.

However, there are some rumors that put the UFC CEO Dana White in a very controversial and unfavorable public light. Evloev is currently the #4 ranked fighter in the division and is undefeated in his professional career. In a recent interview, the Russian fighter mentioned his experience at UFC 314 and how he was kept away from meeting with Volkanovski. 

UFC is trying to keep me as far away from anything title related as possible. I was at UFC 314. After the fight, I had the opportunity to talk to the UFC. They did not want this. When the event was over, we were walking out through the hallway. Volk was standing not far from me… I wanted to go up to him and congratulate him, but the security guys didn’t let me and took me to the opposite side. 

Movsar Evloev via Vlad Kolos

Evloev has participated in nine UFC fights and has won each one of them, defeating the likes of Aljamain Sterling, Diego Lopes, Arnold Allen, etc. The fighter believes he deserves the title shot, but is ready to wait as long as possible. Evloev has had ten cancellations in nineteen scheduled bouts, creating concern about consistency and activity throughout his UFC tenure.

Four of those cancellations were due to his own withdrawals, often attributed to injuries sustained during intense training camps. The most alarming issue is his complete lack of finishes, with zero knockouts or submissions in his entire UFC career. This has raised severe doubts about his finishing ability and whether he can carry the featherweight division on his back with entertaining performances like Volk.

Movsar Evloev talks about fighting Alexander Volkanovski 

Alexander Volkanovski’s dominant legacy is built on incredible striking, pressure, and unmatched fight IQ against the featherweight division’s toughest challenges. His five title defenses at featherweight is the second-most in history. After his KO loss, doubts surrounded his future, but Volkanovski remained focused, vowing to reclaim his throne with renewed hunger.

Movsar Evloev breaks down potential fight with Alexander Volkanovski
Movsar Evloev breaks down potential fight with Alexander Volkanovski (via X)

At UFC 314, he achieved a remarkable comeback, dismantling Diego Lopes with clinical precision and reminding everyone of his greatness. It is now regarded as one of the biggest comebacks in recent years, especially for his age. However, all that doesn’t necessarily bother Movsar Evloev, who already has a game plan against the two-time featherweight champion. 

I think if I face him, I will just push him to the wall. So don’t let him run from me, don’t let him move. And then he has to exchange with me, then he will tire. Or I will break him because I know that I have bigger power, better wrestling, and I can control this guy for five rounds or finish on the ground.

Movsar Evloev via Overdogs Podcast 

Following the win at UFC 314, Volkanovski has talked about being as active as possible and defending his belt frequently. He also talked about potentially fighting Evloev and promised to take away the Russian’s undefeated streak. However, it seems like the UFC doesn’t necessarily want the same and has other plans for the featherweight belt. 

Facing delays in getting a title shot despite having a great winning streak isn’t new for a Russian fighter. In the past, both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have faced similar treatment from the UFC. Other than them, Magomed Ankalaev also faced a similar situation but made sure to get the belt when given the opportunity. 

Related: Is Alexander Volkanovski a chef? Learn about UFC featherweight champ’s impressive cooking skills