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Alexander Volkanovski Targets Movsar Evloev in Bold Revenge Claim After Islam Makhachev Loss
Alexander Volkanovski, Movsar Evloev, and Islam Makhachev (Image Credits: Imagn)

Alexander Volkanovski Targets Movsar Evloev in Bold Revenge Claim After Islam Makhachev Loss

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports  |  By Sarthak Khanna  |  Last updated Mar 21, 2026 3:53 AM ET

Alexander Volkanovski has never been one to shy away from a challenge. His latest comments have once again stirred intrigue across the MMA world. The featherweight king recently made it clear that he has his sights set on Movsar Evloev, as he looks to bounce back from his high-profile loss to Islam Makhachev.

Volkanovski’s defeat to Makhachev was a significant moment in his career. Islam knocked out Volk in the first round via knockout at the main event of UFC 294. While this fight was a while ago, Volkanovski still hasn’t recovered from it. He is determined to dismantle the Dagestani-style wrestling that has taken over the sport.

Speaking candidly, Volkanovski acknowledged the effectiveness of fighters from Dagestan and Chechnya. “Dagestani and Chechen wrestling have been so effective. A lot of fighters don’t know how to deal with it. You’ve seen my fight with Islam; I could deal with that. I would love to get [Evloev] and take out this style.”

However, he continued by explaining that many fighters fail to understand how to counter the approach followed by Dagestani and Chechnya fighters inside the Octagon. His own fight with Makhachev showed glimpses of what is possible against elite grapplers.

Why Alexander Volkanovski Wants to Fight Movsar Evloev

For Alexander Volkanovski, a fight against Evloev is more than just another fight. While Evoloev wants to fight Arman Tsarukyan next, Volk aims to fight Movsar to make a statement. Evloev has built his reputation on elite wrestling. By calling him out, Volk wants to target the division’s most stylistically challenging fighters.

He believes that fighting Movsar will not only help build back his dominance in the division but also send a clear message to the rest of the roster, including Islam Makhachev. Recently, Volk shed light on his fight with Makhachev and confessed that he is still proud of himself, despite the outcome.

“We know how good Islam is. Till this day, look what he’s doing. His resume was still good, but it wasn’t the resume he’s got now. But everyone knew he was that good. Even though I lost, I still think it’s probably one of the biggest moments of my career,” Volkanovski stated.

At this stage of his career, Volk is not in it for just winning. He wants to create a legacy of his own. A win over Evloev could reshape how fans view Volkanovski’s loss to Makhachev. It would show the world that Alexander Volkanovski solved a puzzle (defeating Dagestani and Chechen fighters) that others cannot.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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