“I don’t know if they appreciate me yet, but after this fight, they will make sure to appreciate me.” Earlier this year, Magomed Ankalaev voiced his frustration ahead of his long-awaited title clash against Alex Pereira at UFC 313. Despite being a mainstay in the promotion for years, Ankalaev had to wait a long time for a second title shot—his first ended in a draw. Even after decisively defeating ‘Poatan’ and claiming the belt, the Dagestani admitted he still doesn’t know if Dana White and the UFC truly appreciate his contributions. Now, a similar situation is brewing with another Russian Muslim fighter, Movsar Evloev.

Since joining the UFC in 2019, Evloev has gone undefeated in nine fights over more than five years—yet, a title shot continues to elude him. Last week at UFC 314, Ilia Topuria vacated the featherweight title, which opened the door for a championship bout between Diego Lopes and Alexander Volkanovski. The Aussie ace emerged victorious and became a two-time champion. Wasting no time, ‘Volk’ publicly called for a fight with Evloev. However, the UFC has remained silent on the matchup, sparking questions and frustrations.

The Russian recently revealed in an interview with ‘Kolos on MMA’ that he was present at UFC 314 to get a clearer picture of what’s next. “The UFC is trying to keep me as far away from anything title-related as possible. I was at UFC 314, and after the fight, I had the opportunity to talk to the UFC. They did not want this,” said Movsar Evloev.

The Russian featherweight didn’t mince words. He revealed that as he approached Volkanovski to offer his congratulations after the fight, he was abruptly stopped. “I wanted to go up to him [Volk], talk to him, congratulate him personally, and ask him about the fight. But the security guys didn’t give me the opportunity—they took me to the opposite side,” he said. “This shows who the UFC wants to see in the title picture. They somehow let certain fighters through, so there’s a story.”

He went on to express his frustration over being sidelined despite a spotless record. “Apparently, in their eyes, I am not worthy of the title yet. Give me the opportunity to prove that I am worthy. If nine wins in the best organization in the world are not enough, I am ready to fight nine more times. Maybe the UFC will sign someone else.” Evloev added.

Throughout his unbeaten UFC run, Movsar Evloev has built a reputation around his suffocating, wrestling-heavy approach, outgrappling opponents like Diego Lopes, Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen, and Dan Ige with precision and control. Yet, his lack of finishes has often drawn criticism from fans and analysts alike. All nine of his UFC wins have gone the distance, and many believe this is the key reason why a title shot has continued to elude him, despite his dominance.

But now, with the spotlight growing brighter and public demand louder, it seems Dana White might finally be ready to give the undefeated Russian his long-awaited shot at gold. Here’s what might be coming next.

Movsar Evloev vows to make major changes if granted a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski

Last year, a frustrated Movsar Evloev made his stance clear following his appearance at UFC 310 alongside Aljamain Sterling—he wouldn’t beg Dana White for a title shot. But tides seem to be shifting. Just last month, Alexander Volkanovski himself publicly called out Evloev, a move that has only added fuel to the Russian’s growing case for a title opportunity.

Despite his undefeated 19-0 record, Evloev’s wrestling-heavy style has often been labeled as “boring” by critics—a perception many believe has contributed to the UFC brass overlooking him in title contention. Still, Evloev isn’t backing down. Instead, he’s doubling down with a bold proposal. If granted a shot at the two-time champ Alexander Volkanovski, Evloev promises a completely different approach inside the Octagon.

“I can promise them that I’m not gonna take down [Volkanovski] if they give me a title shot,” Evloev said in a recent candid interview. “I’m not going there first. If they try to take me down, okay, I’ll deal with it. But my plan is to go straight into striking. I’ll push him to the wall, keep him from moving, and force him to exchange with me. He’ll either tire or I’ll break him. Because I know I have more power, better wrestling, and I can dominate him for five rounds, or finish him on the ground.”

So, what’s your take—Movsar Evloev vs. Alexander Volkanovski: Is this the kind of fight MMA fans have been waiting for? Sound off in the comments below.