Undefeated contender Movsar Evloev wants the next shot at Alexander Volkanovski.
UFC featherweight contender Movsar Evloev could be next in line for UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, but the debate over the next title shot got a little complicated after UFC 314.
Featherweights Yair Rodriguez and Jean Silva earned big wins on the UFC 314 main card last Saturday in Miami. Rodriguez, a former interim titleholder, is looking to earn a potential rematch with Volkanovski after losing in their title unification bout at UFC 290.
Silva is an emerging UFC star after an unbeaten five-fight run in the promotion. The former Dana White’s Contender Series standout pleaded with the matchmakers to grant him the next title shot over Rodriguez and Evloev.
Movsar Evloev reacts to Yair Rodriguez potentially skipping the line after UFC 314
While Silva’s title shot request isn’t likely to be granted without a few more victories, Rodriguez’s win over Patricio ‘Pitbull’ added another potential option for Volkanovski’s next fight. But Volkanovski promised in the lead-up to UFC 314 to grant Evloev the next title shot if he became champion.
Volkanovski has since pivoted on that stance in a recent interview with MMA Today, admitting that the UFC 314 results complicate the title shot debate. Rodriguez called dibs on the next title shot in his post-fight media availability after snapping a two-fight skid.
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Evloev responded to Rodriguez’s desired title shot after UFC 314.
“Yair, if you want to fight for the title, you have to beat me first, and then you deserve it,” Evloev said to Rodriguez.
“I think it was the best fight for Yair Rodriguez in forever, and with ‘Pitbull,’ he’s a dangerous opponent, but I don’t think that’s enough to fight for the title. Because he had his chance, and he just skipped it.”
Evloev defeated former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling in his most recent outing at UFC 310 in December. He was briefly linked to a potential clash with Aaron Pico before that rumor was squashed by Evloev and his team.
Yair Rodriguez vs. Diego Lopes might be the fight to make after UFC 314
As for Rodriguez, he could potentially face UFC 314 headliner Diego Lopes in a No. 1 contender fight later this year. Rodriguez and Lopes got into it at the UFC 314 pre-fight press conference, in a surprising moment between the two featherweights.
Before falling to Volkanovski at UFC 314, Lopes earned recent wins over Brian Ortega and Dan Ige. After defeating one of Rodriguez’s teammates earlier in his career, tensions between Lopes and Rodriguez have reached new heights.
Evloev and Rodriguez both make intriguing cases for the next featherweight title shot, and time will tell who will get the next crack at Volkanovski.
