Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, is facing a question many fighters never answer: when to stop while still performing well. The 38-year-old defends his title at UFC 333 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, UAE, against undefeated challenger Movsar Evloev (20-0). Volkanovski already defied the odds in April 2025, becoming the first fighter older than 35 to win a UFC championship in a weight class under 170 pounds, and he defended that belt in January against Diego Lopes.
Volkanovski has shifted from the comedic "Old Man Volk" persona to discussing his age seriously. He says any fight could be his last and has even proposed a "sendoff" title fight against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, after which both would retire. "One hundred percent, if I notice I'm slowing down or I'm taking more damage, [I'll retire]," he said. ESPN Research shows male UFC fighters 38 and older have won 37% of their bouts all time.
Evloev, of Russia, boasts a perfect 10-0 record inside the Octagon and is one of the most proven title challengers in featherweight history, but he has not finished a single UFC opponent. He is a slight underdog against Volkanovski, according to DraftKings. Volkanovski, a two-time champion who suffered back-to-back knockout losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria before regaining the title in 2025, believes Evloev's grappling-focused style plays into his hands, saying fans may see "the best Volk we've ever seen."
The card also features Yan vs. Dvalishvili, with Merab Dvalishvili looking to prove his last fight was an outlier.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing