LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag] won’t complain about his long road to a featherweight title shot and is embracing his position more than ever after UFC 310.
Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) added the biggest win of his career thus far to his undefeated record on Saturday when he outworked UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling to a unanimous decision in their featherweight bout at T-Mobile Arena.
Given his resume now includes Sterling and the likes of Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes and Dan Ige, it would be easy to grant Evloev a shot at reigning 145-pound champ Ilia Topuria. It doesn’t seem like he’s at the forefront of that conversation, though, and Evloev is OK with that.
“I don’t care, honestly,” Evloev told MMA Junkie and other reports of a title shot after UFC 310. “If (Dana White is) thinking I don’t deserve the title, just give me another fight. I will keep winning, even to 100-0. And then maybe they will think about a title shot for me.
“Let’s move forward. I think I deserve the title shot. If not, just give me another fighter. I’m not going to wait for another year to fight again. Just two months maybe and I am ready to fight.”
Before Topuria became champion, Evloev was scheduled to fight him at UFC 270 in January 2022, but was forced to withdraw due to illness. Both men have continued to win since then, with Topuria claiming the belt in February with a knockout of Alexander Volkanovski then defending it for the first time in October when he stopped Max Holloway with strikes.
Evloev said he holds Topuria in high regard, but he likes his chances of taking the belt.
“I think he’s a great fighter,” Evloev said. “I think everybody thinking that after he dropped a couple of legends. He is strong and his wrestling is good. Striking is amazing. But like I said, I’m the only one in the featherweight division who can stop him. I have enough power and will to stop this guy. Nothing but respect for this guy. All I need from him is his title.”
[lawrence-related id=2792040,2791522]
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.