UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski knows Movsar Evloev deserves to be in the upcoming title fight.
Undefeated contenders Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and Lerone Murphy (17-0-1 MMA, 9-0-1 UFC) were vying for a shot but wound up being passed up by Diego Lopes, who will run things back with Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) in the UFC 325 headliner on Jan. 31 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (Paramount+).
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Volkanovski’s most recent fight came in a vacant title win over Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC), so the announcement came as a surprise to many – including the champion.
“I called for Movsar straight after the fight,” Volkanovski told Sporting News Australia. “I knew he was going to be fighting (Pico), then he pulled out. I knew he was meant to maybe postpone, and then he didn’t take it, and I’m like, ‘There goes your opportunity.’ So that wasn’t long before I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I feel for him in a sense where I know he definitely deserved it, that’s why I called for him, but I totally understand how this game works.
“You can’t be that guy. You’ve got to be the guy who’s willing to fight anyone, anywhere, put your hand up. Lerone Murphy did do that, fought a guy on short notice in Pico and got a massive finish, so I thought it was going to be him in December then I knew the UFC were waiting for Jean Silva and Diego. I was like, ‘Oh, maybe it’s going to be one of these guys so let’s see what happens.'”
Regardless, Volkanovski vows to give the other contenders a chance – he just hopes they remain busy in the meantime.
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“We’ll see what happens,” Volkanovski said. “Whether Movsar and Lerone fight somebody or each other, prove themselves, and then I’ll fight them straight after. So don’t worry. They won’t miss their opportunity. Take another fight or wait, but I don’t think waiting is a good idea.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski sympathizes with snubbed contender
