“As soon as the first punch is thrown in [Volkanovski vs. Lopes], the title is vacated,” announced Dana White, confirming the significant shift in the featherweight landscape following Ilia Topuria’s decision to swim in the shark-infested lightweight waters. With the Spanish-Georgian’s move to 155 pounds creating a power vacuum atop the division, the head honcho wasted no time in restructuring the upcoming fight calendar. Alexander Volkanovski, who had been preparing for a highly anticipated rematch with Topuria, now finds himself redirected toward a title opportunity against the surging Diego Lopes.

For the 36-year-old, this unexpected title shot arrives at a pivotal moment in his storied career. Having suffered back-to-back KO losses against ‘El Matador’ and 155lbs kingpin Islam Makhachev, the former champion stands at a crucial crossroads. While reclaiming the featherweight throne remains his immediate priority, his competitive vision extends beyond just the Lopes matchup. In a recent interview with MMA extraordinaire Ariel Helwani, Volkanovski’s focus notably shifted beyond his upcoming title fight.

When discussing potential future opponents, Volk appeared to employ strategic thinking that fighters rarely reveal publicly: targeting the man who recently defeated his upcoming foe. “Who better to fight against next than the fighter who got the better of my upcoming opponent?” Volkanovski mused while targeting Russian 145fer Movsar Evloev.

The Aussie ace stated, “I think Movsar is still going to be….well look what I’m planning on doing. Like, I’m telling you that I’m gonna go there and I’m winning the belt and I’ll call him [Movsar Evloev] out. So he could probably just wait if he wants.” Not wavering from his confidence, Volkanovski added “I’m winning that title and I’ll fight him. 3 months later, tell me the date that we can do it and I’ll call the shots that night.” Talk about an emphatic challenge!

As the featherweight title fight was booked for UFC 314, debate quickly emerged over whether Diego Lopes was truly the right man for the opportunity. While the Brazilian boasts five UFC wins—two of which came against ranked opponents—his lone loss in the promotion came in his debut against Movsar Evloev in 2023 at UFC 288.

Evloev on the other hand, presents an undeniable case for contention. The undefeated Russian holds a flawless 19-0 record, with nine consecutive wins inside the Octagon. His most recent victory came via decision over former champion Aljamain Sterling, following a dominant performance against then-#7-ranked Arnold Allen.

It wasn’t just fans who believed Evloev should have been next in line to face Alexander Volkanovski. Sterling himself took to X to voice his opinion, writing, “Definitely should’ve been Movsar, but of course, no fighter in their rightful mind will ever turn down a title shot because they think ‘it’s the right thing to do,’ so that someone more deserving gets it.”

Lopes didn’t take kindly to the remark, firing back with a pointed response: “The joke is that I’m going to fight for the title because I’m the most active fighter in the division because I accept fights and don’t deny them like you and your friend Movsar did and do.”

Another case for the Russian’s long and arduous path is his penchant for decision wins that many have branded as boring. All of those 9 aforementioned wins have come via decision! Volkanovski, meanwhile, has remained unfazed by the controversy. Watching from the sidelines, the former champion made it clear that he’s open to facing both contenders. With his career approaching its twilight, ‘The Great’ seems to recognize that a showdown with Evloev is inevitable—and possibly a fight he’ll prioritize before hanging up the gloves.

Alexander Volkanovski touches base on career exit ahead of UFC 314

The upcoming fight will mark Alexander Volkanovski’s 31st professional outing and his 17th inside the Octagon. After all, the former 145lbs kingpin has been active since 2012, and in the UFC since 2016. After such a long period, anyone would be compelled to ask how much longer the fighter can go. His back-to-back defeats have reportedly only fuelled the belief that Volkanovski’s tenure may be coming to an end. Fortunately, the fighter wasn’t one to shy away from discussing any retirement talks.

“I’ll be honest with you, a few months ago I didn’t know. I was like, ‘I might not be the same guy I was.’ But [that] doesn’t mean I can’t win… I probably could go a few more years… Even winning [the belt] I’m thinking of, ‘You know what, I’m done.’ Because, how much longer do I want to do this? This ain’t easy, Ariel!” said Volkanovski on Ariel Helwani’s show.

He added, “I’m expecting to maybe have a few more… I’ll say that and then I’ll have a fight and absolutely love it and go, ‘You know what, give me another six or seven [fights]!’ But how much longer? I still love, but how much longer do I want to do this to myself and my body?”

UFC 314 will show just where Alexander Volkanovski stands in terms of his fighting prowess. Then, if all goes well, we will see him compete against Movsar Evloev too! For now, do you hold any predictions for UFC 314? Let us know in the comments section below.