Could UFC 333 be Volkanovski's last fight? What he, Evloev and his coach said
Volkanovski has said a bad night against Evloev could end his career, Evloev answered “same thing”, and coach Joe Lopez says the call is his fighter's.
Alexander Volkanovski has put a condition on his future. In an interview with Australia's 10 News in August, he said he could retire after UFC 333 if the fight with Movsar Evloev went terribly wrong, MMA Sucka reported. Sport Mail quoted him as adding that if it goes well and he stays healthy, he expects to carry on.
Evloev matched the stipulation. Under an Instagram post about Volkanovski's comments he wrote “Same thing”, indicating he would also walk away after a bad beating, according to MMA Sucka. The unbeaten challenger has never lost a professional fight.
Volkanovski's long-time coach Joe Lopez told Submission Radio that the decision is not his to make. “At the end of the day, it's his decision, not mine,” he said, as quoted by Lowkick MMA. Lopez added that he would have been happy for Volkanovski to stop after his first fight with Diego Lopes.
Lopez also expects that a loss would make Volkanovski want to come back rather than leave, and called the situation a two-edged sword. He said Volkanovski arrives well prepared and looks stronger than he has in a long time.
The featherweight champion (28-4) makes his sixth title defence and his 11th straight title fight on Saturday 24 October at Etihad Arena, per The National. Evloev (20-0) is fighting for a UFC belt for the first time.
UFC 333: Volkanovski vs EvloevSat 24 Oct · Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi See ticketsSource: MMA Sucka, Lowkick MMA, Sport Mail, The National
