Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev could reshape all-time featherweight debate

A win at UFC 333 would take Volkanovski to nine title wins against José Aldo's 11, by writer Jed Meshew's count. Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili meet in a trilogy bout in the co-main event.

Alexander Volkanovski defends his UFC featherweight title against Movsar Evloev in Abu Dhabi on Saturday in a fight that MMA writers Mike Heck and Jed Meshew agree could reshape the argument over the greatest 145lb fighter of all time, even though they disagree on how far.

Heck said a win would make Volkanovski undeniably the best featherweight ever. He has long ranked José Aldo first, but said victory would see Volkanovski break Aldo's UFC record for title-fight wins and equal his UFC record for title defences, on top of the head-to-head win he already holds over the Brazilian. Heck added that Volkanovski had been calling for the Evloev fight for around two years, and described his rematch with Diego Lopes at UFC 325 as a ridiculous booking that taught nobody anything.

Meshew said the debate would only begin in earnest on Saturday rather than end. He counts title wins as what matters most, and puts Aldo ahead 11 to eight. A ninth for Volkanovski would make it a genuine contest, he said, though he noted that Aldo won his almost entirely in sequence, 10 in a row before regaining the belt after losing to Conor McGregor, while Volkanovski's are split across two reigns, and that part of the second came while Ilia Topuria was not competing at featherweight.

Meshew still called a win over Evloev potentially historic. He argued only the true all-time greats beat the best of three generations, and that Evloev, unlike Lopes, is clearly the division's best fighter outside Topuria. If Volkanovski wins, Meshew said, he would not argue with anyone calling him the greatest.

Alexander K. Lee pointed to the circumstances. Volkanovski turned 38 a few weeks ago, competes in a division where veterans are quickly overtaken, and is in a second title reign few expected. Against an opponent Lee said has every tool to beat him on paper, a win would rank alongside any of Aldo's or Max Holloway's best, in his view.

The bantamweight title is also at stake, with champion Petr Yan facing Merab Dvalishvili for a third time in the co-main event. Heck and Meshew both said the winner would not overtake Dominick Cruz as the division's greatest. Meshew credits Cruz with seven title wins, against five for Dvalishvili or three for Yan should either win on Saturday. He said a Dvalishvili win would put him close enough for a debate, while Yan would remain some way off. Heck called it close but still ranked Cruz first, citing his overall body of work despite the injuries that disrupted his career.

READ NEXTMovsar Evloev says first UFC finish could come against Volkanovski at UFC 333Read the next story →

Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing

Add Combat Sports UK as a preferred source on Google