Volkanovski Ends Featherweight GOAT Debate After UFC 333

Alexander Volkanovski cemented his status as the greatest featherweight in UFC history with a dominant performance over Movsar Evloev at UFC 333.

The Australian reclaimed his throne in convincing fashion, shutting down the previously undefeated challenger's wrestling attack throughout five rounds. Volkanovski denied, escaped, and reversed takedowns from a fighter who had wrestled every opponent in his career, per MMA Mania's Andrew Richardson.

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Volkanovski's Comeback From Consecutive Knockouts

The victory caps a remarkable resurgence for the 36-year-old. Two years ago, Volkanovski had dropped three of four fights, including back-to-back knockout losses to Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev. With both men holding titles in his potential divisions, retirement seemed the logical next step.

Instead, fortune shifted when Topuria and Makhachev both moved up in weight. Volkanovski seized the opening, beating Diego Lopes twice before handling Evloev. Richardson wrote that the win puts Volkanovski in conversations with Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre on all-time lists.

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Featherweight remains the UFC's championship division, having crowned only Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, Volkanovski, and Topuria as titleholders. Volkanovski now stands alone atop that list.

The former champion next defends his belt in early 2027, with the division's landscape still taking shape after Topuria's recent move to lightweight.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — UFC 333, The Morning After: Old man Alexander Volkanovski ends the Featherweight GOAT debate