Alexander Volkanovski retained his featherweight title by stopping Movsar Evloev in the second round in Abu Dhabi. Evloev had success early in the contest before a right hand from the champion changed the fight. Volkanovski followed up with strikes to secure the technical knockout and hand the previously unbeaten challenger his first defeat.
Alexander Volkanovski retained his featherweight championship against Movsar Evloev in the main event of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 333. The mixed martial arts contest took place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, on 24 October. Evloev entered the title challenge unbeaten; the defeat ended that run as Volkanovski kept possession of the belt.[1], [2]
Evloev had success in the opening round of the championship fight. Volkanovski’s decisive attack came late in the second, when he landed a clean right hand. The challenger retreated after the punch. Volkanovski moved after him and maintained the attack, taking the contest from the standing exchange to the canvas as he pursued the finish.[1]
Further strikes on the ground completed the finish. The official result was a technical knockout by strikes at four minutes and 54 seconds of round two, six seconds before the round was due to end. The stoppage confirmed Volkanovski’s successful title defence and the first defeat of Evloev’s career, with the contest ending before a third round began.[1]
