Volkanovski (29-4) stopped previously unbeaten Movsar Evloev (20-1) at 4:54 of the second round Saturday to retain the Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title. The Australian champion said he was ill entering the fight but delivered a bonus-winning finish to hand Evloev his first professional defeat.
Alexander Volkanovski explains illness before stopping unbeaten Movsar Evloev at UFC 333
Volkanovski recorded his seventh successful title defense across two reigns in the UFC 333 headliner. Afterward, “The Great” emphasized that while he appreciates being a champion, overcoming challenges means more to him.
“It feels good,” Volkanovski said in a postfight interview. “Again, I don't really care about this, like I really don't. I just care about, again, overcoming challenges. A guy who was undefeated in front of me, to overcome that and beat him… And again, getting through camps, you know, and all that. There's so many challenges that come with this sport and overcoming them is what really excites me. So, that means so much more to me.”
At the postfight news conference, Volkanovski described his illness as another obstacle he welcomed.
“It's all good, it's a part of the game,” Volkanovski said. “I started getting sick, I was like, ‘It would've been too easy if I wasn't sick.’ No matter what hurdles are in front of me, this sh*t excites me.”
“I enjoy the challenge because I believe I have the mindset and the skills to take out anyone.” Alexander Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) becomes the first man to defeat Movsar Evloev to retain his title at #UFC333 Main Card Results ➡️ https://t.co/sBG9QXkS3p https://t.co/rzmEs7PK7D— UFC News (@UFCNews) October 24, 2026
🚨 Alexander Volkanovski reveals he was sick when he fought Movsar Evloev today 🤒 "It's all good, it's a part of the game. I started getting sick, I was like 'it would've been too easy if I wasn't sick.' No matter what hurdles are in front of me, this sh*t excites me." https://t.co/zUHBaAqSv2— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 24, 2026