Alexander Volkanovski predicts UFC 333 win vs. Movsar Evloev in pretty wild fashion39

ABU DHABI – Alexander Volkanovski doesn't think Movsar Evloev is going to have much luck prolonging their UFC 333 title fight.

Evloev (20-0 MMA, 10-0 UFC) told MMA Junkie on Friday that he wants to thoroughly dominate Volkanovski (28-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) over five rounds in Saturday's featherweight championship headliner at Etihad Arena on Yas Island (Paramount+), and wouldn't be mad if he doesn't finish the fight.

The comments came in response to Volkanovski saying there's "no way" the challenger could outwork him over 25 minutes, which is something he doubled down Sunday to start fight week.

"I want him to bring his best game," Volkanovski told MMA Junkie at an Engage fan event in Dubai. "However he thinks he can win, come and do it. And what I mean by that is no disrespect to him. Where he's so strong, and where he's been so effective with everyone else and where he's so good, I just believe that's not where he can beat me. Trying to out grapple me for 25 minutes, I can't see it. I believe the only chance any of these guys have – and it isn't just him; any of them – is for them to catch me. That's what I meant by it. I say that about all my opponents. But if he thinks he can beat me by decision or thinks he can outgrapple me, I'm sure he's going to try. We'll see.

"I'm very confident in my skills and the fighter I still am. I think I get my hand raised, and I think I can do it in pretty wild fashion. I believe I can get a finish. I think I can do it inside the five. He's saying maybe he wants to win the decision. I'm saying I'll finish him inside the five rounds for sure. Great opponent. Great skill. I just really think I'm going to perform, and it's going to be one of my best performances. A lot of people are going to go say after this fight, 'Is that the best Volk we've ever seen?' I truly do believe that, I think just purely for the performance I'm going to bring."

If Volkanovski, No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie pound-for-pound rankings, can produce the career-best performance he expects, he anticipates that would unfold on the feet. He knows what No. 2-ranked featherweight Evloev, who has 52 takedowns landed over 10 octagon appearances, is coming to do on fight night.

Volkanovski, 38, said that doesn't mean Evloev, 32, can't compete in striking exchanges, but ultimately "The Great" is confident he is far superior in that area.

"A lot of people act like he can't strike," Volkanovski said. "Of course he can strike. It's not going to be the most prettiest striking you've ever seen. It's going to be calculated. He's still calculated and still awkward. He's still a threat on the feet. A lot of people think I can just go in and have my hands down and do whatever I want. Nah. I don't fight like that with anybody. But I think I'm the better striker. I've proved it time and time again. I know where he wants to take it, and I'm not going to let him take it there. It's going to be forced to be on the feet, and let's see how good his striking is."

Volkanovski is oldest of all the current UFC champions, and with that comes a narrative about his career timeline going into every fight. He's already admitted he would likely retire if things go "horribly wrong" at UFC 333, and while he doesn't expect that to be the case, he doesn't avoid being realistic about the topic.

"There's no plans to retire, but we're not going to be silly and act delusional like I've got another 10 fights left in me," Volkanovski said. "I just don't. I don't want to be here for another 10 fights. Maybe a few more, though. Maybe a couple. We'll see."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Alexander Volkanovski predicts UFC 333 win vs. Movsar Evloev 'in pretty wild fashion'