Movsar Evloev is finally getting his long-awaited shot at featherweight gold when he takes on Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24. The undefeated Russian earned his title opportunity with a win over Lerone Murphy at UFC London, taking his professional record to 20-0 and moving one step closer to becoming champion.
Evloev’s victory over Murphy also marked his 10th consecutive win inside the Octagon. With a streak like that, most fighters would expect to be in the title conversation much sooner. However, there has been one persistent complaint about the Russian’s UFC run: his inability to finish fights.
All 10 of Evloev’s UFC victories have gone to the judges, including eight unanimous decisions, one majority decision, and one split decision. While his record speaks for itself, his decision-heavy approach has often left fans wanting more action.
Now, the criticism has taken another turn, with UFC legend Jose Aldo suggesting a drastic solution to the Russian’s lack of finishes. Aldo even revealed what he would do with Evloev if he were in charge of making decisions for the promotion.
Jose Aldo Admits Movsar Evloev Doesn’t Excite Him and Reveals Why He Would Deny Him a Title Shot
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Aldo admitted that Evloev’s cautious fighting style does little to excite him. The former UFC champion would rather watch aggressive fighters like Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria, who are always hunting for finishes. Aldo even suggested that Evloev should not remain at the top simply because of his ranking if he cannot bring enough excitement to the table.
He explained, “The UFC isn’t just an organization that has to follow a ranking system. It’s a business; it’s entertainment. It’s not a matter of, ‘I’m number one, so I have to fight for the title.’ No. Evloev is ranked No. 1 in the division, if I’m not mistaken, and if I were the president, I’d never put him in there.”
Aldo acknowledged that Evloev might be capable of beating everyone in the division, but argued that winning alone is not enough if the fights fail to entertain. The Brazilian even went as far as suggesting that the UFC should cut the Russian after his first loss.
He added, “He could beat everybody. I’d wait for him to lose for the first time and then cut him because he’s a guy who doesn’t sell, a guy who puts on boring fights, a guy who doesn’t draw attention, who just stays inactive. So why would I give him that opportunity? I want to sell out my arena. I want my event to grow. There’s a lot involved.”
View this post on Instagram
To drive his point home, Aldo pointed to fighters like Alex Pereira and Jean Silva, who can bounce back from setbacks with spectacular performances because they constantly look for finishes. He also highlighted Pereira’s rise in the UFC, noting how the Brazilian made a name for himself through his explosive kickboxing and knockout power despite joining the promotion at nearly 35 years old.
Aldo also brought up Jon Jones as an example of a more well-rounded fighter who can still attract massive attention. Comparing Jones to football legend Diego Maradona, he suggested that a fighter with elite skills across the board will always have a strong selling point.
Demetrious Johnson WENT OFF on Movsar Evloev and questions how he’s still in the UFC after 10 fights with no finishes 😳
🗣️DJ: “Undefeated, 20-0, no finishes, how the f-ck is he still in the UFC?… Not even a submission?”
🗣️IA: “He’s a grappler with no finishes or no knockouts.”
(Via @MightyMouse @stylebender / YT)
— Title Fight (@TitleFightMedia) October 5, 2026
Interestingly, Aldo is not the only MMA legend questioning Evloev’s lack of finishes. Demetrious Johnson recently admitted that he was surprised the undefeated Russian had not been cut despite recording zero finishes in the UFC. With his featherweight title shot finally here, all eyes will be on Evloev to see whether he can silence the critics and score his first Octagon finish on October 24.
MORE MMA NEWS:
Ilia Topuria Makes Surprise Appearance at RKENA x PFL Event as Georgian Fans Chant His Name
Alexander Volkanovski Plans Special ‘Cooking With Volk’ Episode With Islam Makhachev in Dagestan