“Funny Talk From Decision Merchant” – Movsar Evloev Trolled for Retracting Comments on Finishing Alexander Volkanovski

UFC 333 features a featherweight title bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev in the main event. Both fighters are confident about their ability to get the win. Ahead of the fight, Evloev even talked about finishing the featherweight champion in Abu Dhabi.

Since then, Volkanovski claimed that no one could beat him up for 25 minutes inside the octagon. It seems that Evloev has taken an issue with that comment. As such, the undefeated contender backtracked on him finishing Volkanovski to prove a point.

I was looking for a finish, but when I hear that kind of stuff, I don’t want a finish. I want to prove that he’s not special. I can beat him over five rounds. He’s confident. I like that confidence, but me too. Only the fight will show whose confidence works better.

Movsar Evloev via MMA Junkie

Movsar Evloev responds to Alexander Volkanovski saying he can’t beat him by decision at #UFC333. "I was looking for finish. But when I hear that kind of talk, I don’t want to finish. I want to prove that he’s not special." (via @MikeBohn) https://t.co/U7Szl5tGjq

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 16, 2026

The MMA community took issue with his comments about finishing Volkanovski. They hated it even more after he backtracked on that statement. This is because Evloev has 0 finishes in the UFC.

The Russian contender has competed in the UFC since 2019 and hasn’t finished anyone so far. He has 10 wins in the UFC with all of them coming via decision.

Some fans liked the confidence coming from Evloev. However, the majority of fans lambasted him for making such a comment. Here are some of the fan reactions mocking the undefeated contender.

@MMAJunkie @MikeBohn lol not special? Volks legendary status is already written in stone.

— Cheech n Jon (@Cheech_n_Jon) October 17, 2026

@MMAJunkie @MikeBohn lmaooo ok bro. yea i’m sure that’s why you won’t get the finish😭🤣

— Tres Comas (@3res_Comas) October 16, 2026

@RedCorner_MMA funny talk from a decision merchant

— TimeLine (@predict_king) October 16, 2026

@RedCorner_MMA Brother don’t even know how finish looks like

— immortal (@broguek1ck) October 16, 2026

It remains to be seen if the Russian fighter can silence his haters at UFC 333 by capturing the featherweight title from Volkanovski.

Alexander Volkanovski wants champion vs champion bout against Justin Gaethje

On the other hand, Alexander Volkanovski is coming off back-to-back title fight wins over Diego Lopes. He is feeling very confident ahead of UFC 333.

‘The Great’ warned Evloev about his takedown defense. To that end, Volk promised that the Russian fighter would not control him on the ground.

Volkanovski is also not ruling out retirement after UFC 333. He has long eyed a second divisional title in the UFC. As such, he called out lightweight champion Justin Gaethje in a recent podcast appearance.

Let’s do a superfight, lightweight title on the line and then we can both [retire]. Then, straight after that, let the division sort themselves out. Let’s make that happen.

Alexander Volkanovski via Who Da Fook Podcast

Alexander Volkanovski is interested in a superfight against Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title 👀 "Let’s do a superfight, lightweight title on the line and then we can both [retire]. Then, straight after that, let the division sort themselves out. Let’s make that happen." (via @WhoTheFookPod)

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 15, 2026

The featherweight champion fought then-lightweight champion Islam Makhachev twice back in 2023 to capture a second belt.

The first fight at UFC 284 was close, and many including Joe Rogan felt that Volk had done enough to secure the win. However, Makhachev knocked Volk out in the second fight to deny the double champion ambition to the Australian MMA legend.

Any dream of capturing a second title right now depends on how the UFC books the lightweight division. Nevertheless, Evloev wasn’t pleased to hear about Volk talking about the lightweight championship.

Movsar Evloev says Alexander Volkanovski will not have 145-pound belt if he faces Justin Gaethje

The undefeated Russian contender took issue with Volkanovski aiming for the lightweight belt. To him, it implied that Volk looked past him ahead of UFC 333.

Volkanovski got a warning from Evloev that he may end up facing Gaethje for the lightweight belt, but not without the featherweight belt.

Movsar Evloev says Alexander Volkanovski can still fight Justin Gaethje – but predicts he will enter that matchup without the featherweight belt. “I think he will get this fight if he wants it, even if he loses to me. I can beat him and he still has a chance to fight Justin because he deserves it. But in his mind, he’s going to beat me and then go up. … There is no chance for him to fight Gaethje next being on a winning streak. … He will be champion without the belt.”

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 16, 2026

The UFC hasn’t made any decision regarding who Gaethje faces next in his lightweight title defense. Arman Tsarukyan deserves the title shot whereas the promotion discussed Ilia Topuria getting a rematch against Gaethje.

With many options on the table, it doesn’t look likely that Volk will get the lightweight title shot again. However, a win over an undefeated contender like Evloev will certainly put him in a favorable situation to have another crack at the lightweight title.

Also Read:

• Alexander Volkanovski Picks Ilia Topuria to ‘Learn a Lot’ and Win Rematch Against Justin Gaethje
• Justin Gaethje Snubs Khabib Nurmagomedov From Personal MMA Mount Rushmore and Says Ilia Topuria Didn’t Quit