Movsar Evloev is looking further down the road than his next fight, revealing that a jump to lightweight is likely in his future given the toll his current weight cut is taking on his body.
“I’m getting bigger every day so one day, I don’t know how long it will take, one day I need to move up because now I need to cut about 26lbs to be featherweight,” Evloev said.
Movsar Evloev Following Ilia Topuria’s Blueprint to Lightweight
Movsar Evloev’s comments echo the path Ilia Topuria walked before him. Topuria dethroned Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title, added a statement knockout over Max Holloway, and then made the jump to lightweight in pursuit of a second belt.
For Evloev, who has built his own case as the division’s top contender, a similar trajectory isn’t out of the question once his current run at featherweight plays out.
Also read: Diego Lopes Confirms Move to Lightweight After UFC White House TKO
Movsar Evloev vs. Alexander Volkanovski Set for UFC 333 Title Fight
That current run is about to reach its biggest test yet. Evloev is set to face featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333, a fight that gives him the chance to do what Topuria already accomplished by beating Volkanovski for the belt.
Evloev arrives off a win over Lerone Murphy at UFC London, a performance that reinforced why he’s viewed as the clear top contender in the division heading into this title opportunity.
Movsar Evloev’s 26lb Featherweight Cut Becoming Harder to Manage
The 26-pound cut Evloev described is a significant one, and his comments suggest it’s only becoming more difficult to make as his body continues to grow. While he hasn’t put a firm timeline on the eventual move, the acknowledgment itself signals that featherweight may not be a long-term home for him, regardless of how the Volkanovski fight plays out.
For now, Evloev’s focus remains on the task directly in front of him: beating Volkanovski and adding the featherweight title to his undefeated résumé.
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