‘It doesn’t matter’: Volk sends blunt warning to critics, unbeaten rival

Australian superstar Alexander Volkanovski has delivered a blunt warning to UFC title opponent Movsar Evloev, while also declaring where he stands on retirement.

Volkanovski has continued to defy the odds and after celebrating his 38th birhtday last month, will again step into the octagon against a much younger rival.

Evloev is unbeaten through 22 fights and poses a tough task for Volkanovski but there have been major question marks over his ability to finish, having failed to secure a knockout or submission in 13 attempts under the UFC umbrella.

Speaking to nine.com.au ahead of the UFC 333 showdown on Sunday morning (AEDT), Volkanovski shrugged off that topic of conversation, but did explain why Evloev shouldn’t pose a massive danger to him once the bell rings.

“I don’t read into that, but I’m going to bring the fight to him, so now he’s going to be in a position that he might not be used to,” the Aussie legend said.

“This is the other thing, a lot of people talk about his go-to being his wrestling and grappling ... but I believe that’s going to be very hard for him.

“He’s going to be forced to be on his feet, so I need to respect that he will need to strike more, which means this could be the most dangerous Movsar has been, but I believe I’ll be able to handle that – it won’t be dangerous for me.”

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Volkanovski has consistently proven his elite-level grappling and wrestling, with perhaps the greatest example in his 2023 loss to Islam Makhachev.

In what remains one of the greatest title fights in UFC history, Volkanovski took Makhachev to his limits and had an answer for everything the Russian superstar threw at him, whether it was on the feet or on the ground.

Many still believe Volkanovski should have won that lightweight title bout, which ended in a controversial unanimous decision to a fighter who is rightfully considered a contender for the UFC GOAT tag.

Asked if he looks back to his clash with Makhachev and uses it as a blueprint against Evloev, who has a similar wrestling-heavy style, Volkanovski delivered a dire warning to his undefeated opponent in Abu Dhabi.

“Islam’s an incredible fighter who makes you scramble and so is Movsar, but I just showed you that even when Islam was throwing things at me that don’t happen every day in the gym, I was problem-solving as we go,” he said.

“So when people are asking if he [Evloev] is going to show me something that I haven’t seen before, it doesn’t matter because I will problem-solve.

“There’s no problem there for me. Striking is a different story, you hit me with something, and it could be lights out and game over ... but on the ground, you get a problem, and I’m just going to peel it, and we’re back to the feet.

“The thing he needs to understand is, you can get a takedown on me, you can throw something at me that I haven’t seen before, but you must understand I’m going to find a way out, and I’m too good at understanding this game.

“He won’t know all of that until we’re in there.”

Volkanovski is tipping an early finish against Evloev and thinks it could come in “wild fashion”, such is the confidence he still has in his own ability.

While his focus remains solely on getting his hand raised this week, the topic of retirement continues to circle Volkanovski’s every move and there were many who pushed for him to call it quits after UFC 325 in Sydney earlier this year.

With 32 bouts and 28 wins to his name and more featherweight title defences than any fighter in UFC history, Volkanovski’s legacy is already cemented.

It’s why a brutally honest Volkanovski admitted if he cops “crazy damage” against Evloev, he has no qualms hanging up the gloves and bowing out.

“Every fight there’s a chance for that,” he said.

“If I take crazy damage or the fight goes horribly wrong then all right, we’re done.

“I’m a very self-aware and honest person. A lot of people wouldn’t mention it, even if they were thinking it, but I’ll go out and say it, and I’m not worried about it.

“There is definitely a word where this could be the last fight, but there’s definitely a world where I’ve got another two or three left in me.

“I’m planning on going out there and not taking much damage and putting in an incredible victory, get my hand raised and do it in wild fashion.”

Volkanovski has even floated a super-fight against popular lightweight champion Justin Gaethje next year as a potential last dance with the UFC.

“I would love that – as far as a retirement fight goes, that’s a cool story,” he said.

The ongoing retirement chatter and speculation comes at a time when the UFC champion pursues outside ventures, including his popular YouTube cooking channel, social media skits and a recent role in the “Street Fighter” film.

Many within the sport have raised eyebrows and even criticised Volkanovski for stretching himself too thin and asked whether he is diverting his focus.

But in his classic defiant fashion, Volkanovski explained why the outside noise doesn’t bother him and believes it says more about those being critical.

“I go through and you see comments, and they’ve got every right to think that way, but they’re just not in the know,” the Windang product said.

“Some people think that would stress them out and a lot of crap probably would stress you out, but would I be in this position if shit stressed me out?

“I choose to do the movies, the social media stuff, Cooking With Volk, all that stuff, because I know that I can handle it and if anything, it helps me.

“If people think it’s a distraction, that’s because it would distract them, but that should just remind them why I’m so different. I guarantee they’ve all thought it before because I’ve done it every fight and look what happened.

“Just because they couldn’t handle it, doesn’t mean I can’t.”

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As for this week, Volkanovski wants to stay present and appreciate the moment.

“I probably don’t soak it in enough ... it won’t be long until we’re not doing these things ever again, so maybe I should soak it in a little more,” he said.

“Thanks for bringing that up. I’m gonna try and soak it all in. I’m blessed to still be in this position and I should appreciate it and soak it in more.”

The pay-per-view card for UFC 333 kicks off at 5am AEDT on Sunday, with the main event between Volkvanovski and Evloev slated for approximately 7.30am.