Islam Makhachev was the first man to hand Alexander Volkanovski a loss inside the Octagon. While their first clash at UFC 284 was razor-close, Makhachev left no room for doubt in the rematch, knocking out ‘The Great’ with a picture-perfect head kick at UFC 294. So, if you’re aiming to dethrone Volkanovski and happen to have good relations with Makhachev, it would seem like a no-brainer to train with the lightweight champ, right? Well, not if you’re Movsar Evloev.

The undefeated #4-ranked featherweight and likely next title challenger has every reason to seek Makhachev’s guidance—but he won’t. And it’s not out of pride or ego. Instead, Evloev’s decision comes from a place far more noble—and frankly, heartwarming. “Islam is bigger than me. American Top Team, I have my own team. American Top Team. I’ve been training in this gym for a long time. It wouldn’t be right to change camps right before a title fight. It’s not only my dream, it’s the dream of everyone on American Top Team. I already consider myself a 100% American Top Team fighter.” Evloev told ‘Kolos on MMA’ in a recent interview.

“Although I started in Russia [in the province of Ingushetia]. But the last five years, probably the most important five years of my career, were spent in American Top Team. So I would like to take the belt representing them,” he added.

So Evloev doesn’t want to train with Makhachev for a Volkanovski clash because he wants there to be no doubt that the credit for his success goes to his gym, American Top Team, and not the Makhachev-Khabib Nurmagomedov’s American Kickboxing Academy. And they say loyalty is dead. Well, not as long as Movsar Evloev is fighting!

Of course, we do not know who will fight Volkanovski for the featherweight title next, but Evloev is certainly at the top of the conversation. But on the other hand, former title contender, and co-#4 ranked featherweight Yair Rodriguez, also made a strong case for himself as the next title challenger with his clinical dismantling of the legendary Patricio Pitbull at UFC 314, so it isn’t a done deal that Evloev would be next.

In fact, in light of some major recent developments, and the Russian’s own comments in this interview, it seems increasingly likely that Rodriguez may get the next shot.

Why will Movsar Evloev probably not get the 145lbs title shot next?

The UFC will go to Mexico for this year’s Noche card (UFC 320) to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. The marquee card is set to take place on September 13 in Arena Guadalajara (Mexico), primarily for Mexican fans, and as such, will surely feature a lot of Mexican fighters. But the thing is, the UFC doesn’t have many Mexican fighters who can headline the card. There is former flyweight champ Brandon Moreno, who deserves a rematch with reigning champ Alexandre Pantoja.

But since the UFC is famously icky about the 125-pound division, they are likely to go with the only other title fight featuring a Mexican fighter they can make at the moment. Yair Rodriguez vs. Alexander Volkanovski! In fact, even Evloev believes that the UFC doesn’t want him to fight ‘Volk’ next based upon what he experienced after UFC 314, where the Aussie great reclaimed his title by beating Diego Lopes.

“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. When the tournament was over, we were walking out through the hallway. Volkanovski was standing not far from me,” Evloev told Kolos in the same interview.

“I wanted to go up to him, talk to him, congratulate him personally, and ask him about the fight, but the security guys did not give me this opportunity and took me to the opposite side. This shows who the UFC wants to see in the fight for the belt. They somehow let certain fighters through, so there is a story. Apparently, in their eyes, I am not worthy of the title yet,” the Russian phenom added. What do you think about Movsar Evloev’s comments about not wanting to train with Islam Makhachev?