Movsar Evloev believed he was destined to become UFC featherweight champion no matter how long it took. After years of patiently waiting for his opportunity, Evloev challenges Alexander Volkanovski on Saturday at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. It's a fight that could cement Evloev's place among the division's elite while bringing an unceremonious end to one of its greatest careers.
Volkanovski is a beloved, longtime champion enjoying a second reign in the twilight of his career. Evloev respects him immensely and takes no joy in accepting the role of kingslayer. Evloev's journey to the title took far too long, considering how dominant he's been.
Twenty professional wins, half of which happened inside the Octagon, without a single defeat. His suffocating wrestling and soft-spoken personality make him hard to market, despite nearly 2 million Instagram followers and a fanbase that respects his talents. He's watched other fighters jump ahead of him in the title picture, including Diego Lopes, who got a second shot at Volkanovski shortly after decisively losing their first meeting.
If the UFC wanted more from him, then so be it. He wasn't concerned about how long it took or how many contenders he'd need to beat. Evloev knew the championship would eventually be his.
Pay attention to how he talks about Saturday's fight. He clearly already considers the belt his. "It'll feel like everything that came before was for a reason," Evloev told CBS Sports.
"I'm not here just to be a UFC fighter. I know a lot of people who dream of signing with the UFC and don't think about the title. When I signed with the UFC, I already knew I needed to fight for the title, and I'd do anything to get there.
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