Dana White: Evloev Likely Next For Volkanovski With UFC Abu Dhabi Win
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Movsar Evloev of Russia looks on prior to a featherweight fight ... More during UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by)
Earlier this week, UFC CEO Dana White announced several fights for the July 26 UFC Abu Dhabi fight card. One of those bouts was the five-round co-main event between highly-ranked Movsar Evloev and coveted free-agent signee Aaron Pico. While announcing the bout, White added that with a win, Evloev is likely to be next in line to face UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Movsar Evloev of Russia awaits the start of a round in a ... More featherweight bout during the UFC 310 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
"In the co-main event," said White, "we have another five-round fight, between No. 4 ranked Movsar Evloev taking on the guy most people consider to be the top free agent in the world, Aaron Pico.
"Evloev is undefeated at 19-0 and one of the most intimidating guys at featherweight. Aaron Pico is a ridiculously violent striker and a very high-level grappler. Pico has had hype behind him since he was a teenager because of his skill and fighting style, which people compare him to the likes of Justin Gaethje or Dustin Poirier.
"If Movsar can get the victory, he will likely be the next contender for the title against Alexander Volkanovski.
"Expect this fight to be an absolute war."
Volkanovski does not have his next title defense booked.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 06: Movsar Evloev of Russia prepares to fight Diego Lopes of Brazil in a ... More featherweight fight during the UFC 288 event at Prudential Center on May 06, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Evloev (19-0) made his UFC debut in April 2019 in a featherweight contest against Choi Seung-woo. At the time he stepped into the UFC Octagon for the first time, Evloev was 10-0 and coming off a defense of the M-1 Global bantamweight crown. Evloev, defeated Choi via unanimous decision.
Over the next five years, Evloev would climb the featherweight rankings, facing progressively tougher opponents under the UFC banner. He is 9-0 under the UFC banner. In his most recent outing, the 31-year-old defeated former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling by decision at UFC 310 in a 145-pound scrap.
Evloev has an eight-fight winning streak at 145 pounds, one of his UFC wins came at a catchweight of 150 pounds. He has the fourth longest winning streak in the history of the division. Volkanovski's 11-fight winning run between November 2016 and July 2022 is the second-longest UFC featherweight winning streak.
All nine of Evloev's UFC wins have come via decision.
Pico (13-4) joined the UFC as a free agent earlier this year. Pico was with Bellator for his entire MMA career before departing as a free agent. The 28-year-old had an up-and-down run with the promotion, but he enters UFC Abu Dhabi on a three-fight winning streak. His record in his past 10 fights is 9-1. His only loss during that span, which dates back to January 2020, is a October 2022 TKO loss to Jeremy Kennedy in a fighter were the doctor stopped the bout because Pico dislocated his shoulder.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Alexander Volkanovski of Australia reacts after his unanimous-decision ... More victory against Diego Lopes of Brazil in the UFC featherweight championship bout during the UFC 314 event at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
In April after wining the vacant UFC featherweight title with a decision over Diego Lopes, Volkanovski spoke about who he could face next.
'If the UFC wants to give it to Yair [Rodriguez], I ain't gonna stop that for him,' Volkanovski said. 'I'll be honest, before that fight [against Patricio Freire], I didn't think if he won, he would be getting a shot. I'll be honest, that didn't come to mind. But now that he's calling, I'm not going to be the one to say no. I'm going to leave everything to the UFC.
'Obviously, you've got guys like Movsar, who's undefeated. I'd love to take that zero. We've got to see what the UFC say. I even seen him tweeting that he wants to fight someone in May and doing all this sort of stuff, so maybe he's had the chats and they want him to have one more fight. So I don't know that situation, but I'll see how things are. I'd love to say I want to get straight back in there. I still do. But I'm gonna have to maybe look at a couple of things.'
As for Evloev, he's been angling for a title fight for a while. He revisited that idea in April on social media.
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi
Main Card: 3:00 p.m. ET
Preliminary Card: 12:00 p.m. ET
We will have more on UFC Abu Dhabi and the Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico fight as fight night approaches.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stars Trade Forward, Unload Cap Space
The Dallas Stars traded Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken for a third and fourth round pick on Thursday evening. The news comes mere hours after signing forward Matt Duchene to a four year, $4.5 million deal. Duchene was linemates with Marchment and had undeniable chemistry along with Tyler Seguin that made one of the best lines in hockey over the past two seasons. Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment (27) celebrates after he scores a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period in game five of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn I Marchment had one year left on a four year, $4.5 million deal, the exact deal General Manager Jim Nill gave Duchene. Marchment was set to become an unrestricted free agent after next season and will likely demand a higher number than what he is currently making. His bruising style and flair for the dramatic are part of what drive him to be a valuable asset, and with a breakout year, he could secure a lucrative deal next off-season. Advertisement Surely, Dallas would have decided to keep Marchment if at all possible, but the salary cap dictated that the Stars simply had to move out at least one contract to make the last few moves of the summer. Dallas only had under $500k of cap space to work with after the Duchene deal, which was not even enough to sign a minimum salary player, let alone Jamie Benn or perhaps Mikael Granlund. With only one year left before Marchment might walk away based on the salary cap situation for Dallas next off-season, the Stars chose to get a couple of draft picks in return now instead of waiting. The question mark now becomes who replaces Marchment on the line next to Seguin and Duchene. Dallas is in win-now mode and needs every line to perform at its highest level in order to make the Stanley Cup Final. If Dallas needs to move more money, Matt Dumba or Ilya Lyubushkin have one and two more years on deals worth over $3 million each. Depending on what Nill has left on his to-do list, the Stars could be looking for suitors for one or both of those defensemen signed last off-season. Advertisement Marchment finished each of his last two seasons with 22 goals and added 56 assists. He had a rough first season, only potting 12 goals and 19 assists while being -6. On the line with Duchene and Seguin, he found a place to thrive, with a phenomenal +37 rating over those two seasons. The Kraken will welcome his goal scoring after a difficult season of being one of the worst scoring teams and missing the playoffs by a mile. Make sure you bookmark THN's Dallas Stars site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Stars in Tough Cap Situation After Signing Veteran Forward Stars Extend Matt Duchene With Four-Year Deal Stars Goaltender Heads Home for Next Season Former Dallas Goaltender Heading to University of Maine Hall of Fame
Associated Press
28 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Richards' 2nd-half goal lifts US over Saudi Arabia 1-0 and into CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Defender Chris Richards scored with a flick of the ball off a second-half free kick to lift the United States to a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Thursday night, sending the Americans on to the CONCACAF Gold Cuo quarterfinals. Richards tracked the ball as it flew into the box on a curving free kick from Sebastian Berhalter in the 62nd minute to tap the ball with his left foot past Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aquidi. The win and the 1-1 draw between Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti in Group D's other match Thursday in Houston, clinched a knockout berth for the Americans, who improved to 42 wins, one loss and five draws in group play. The U.S. has won its group in 16 of 17 Gold Cups, and closes Group D play on Sunday against Haiti at Arlington, Texas. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino stuck with the same lineup that produced a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the first time he made no changes in consecutive matches since taking over the program last October. But playing against No. 58 Saudi Arabia, the 16th-ranked Americans showed little of the attack firepower they displayed against the No. 100 Soca Warriors. The match saw few real chances on goal by either team. The Americans had just one shot in the first half. Richards' speed to track back to cover for Alex Freeman's mistake and block a shot kept Saudi Arabia from a 1-0 lead. Matt Freese got his second consecutive start in goal for the U.S. and third in four matches as he appears to have displaced Matt Turner. The Gold Cup represents the last competitive test for the Americans ahead of the 2026 World Cup. As co-host with Mexico and Canada, the U.S. is an automatic qualifier for the World Cup. The Americans limped into the Gold Cup on a four-match losing streak that included a 4-0 rout by Switzerland in their final tune-up. And with many of the top players either sitting out this tournament for personal reasons, injuries or playing in the Club World Cup, Pochettino selected a roster full of relatively untested and unproven players. Missing the tournament for the U.S. are regulars Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest, ___ AP soccer:
Washington Post
34 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Tyrese Haliburton plays through injury, sparks Pacers to force Game 7
INDIANAPOLIS — For Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, one good leg was more than enough to deny the Oklahoma City Thunder its first chance to win the NBA championship. Haliburton gutted through a right calf strain that limited his mobility and pop to spark Indiana's 108-91 Game 6 victory over Oklahoma City at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, pushing the NBA Finals to Game 7 for the first time since 2016. The Thunder will host the winner-take-all series finale Sunday night.
