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Volkanovski Stops Movsar Evloev to Retain Featherweight Title

By Drooid · Oct 25, 2026, 2:52 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Volkanovski Defends Featherweight

Alexander Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev at 4:54 of round two in Abu Dhabi to retain the UFC featherweight title.
Volkanovski earned his ninth featherweight title-fight win, tying Jose Aldo for the division’s most victories.
Movsar Evloev suffered his first UFC loss, ending a 20-fight unbeaten professional streak.
Petr Yan retained the UFC bantamweight title by decision over Merab Dvalishvili, who held a UFC-record 119 takedowns, on October 24, 2026.

Summary

Volkanovski Honors Evloev

Referee Marc Goddard stopped the contest after judging Ilia Evloev could no longer defend himself.
Alexander Volkanovski said he feels blessed and grateful to continue competing at the highest level.
Volkanovski praised Evloev as a great fighter who earned an undefeated reputation.
Volkanovski said he fights out of love, not necessity, and respects Evloev despite the ground-and-pound finish.

History

Historical Context

On December 12, 2015, Conor McGregor knocked out José Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 193, ending Aldo’s ten-year feather-weight reign and shocking the sport. The UFC reported Aldo had amassed ten consecutive title defenses and earned a $1 million performance bonus for his historic run. Similarly, in October 2026 Alexander Volkanovski secured his ninth feather-weight title win, tying Aldo’s record while ending Movsar Evloev’s 20-fight unbeaten streak in a decisive fashion. These milestones illustrate how each era’s dominant champion reshapes the division’s hierarchy, prompting contenders to adapt strategies and promoters to market fresh rivalries for future match-ups.

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Volkanovski Defends Featherweight

Alexander Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev at 4:54 of round two in Abu Dhabi to retain the UFC featherweight title.
Volkanovski earned his ninth featherweight title-fight win, tying Jose Aldo for the division’s most victories.
Movsar Evloev suffered his first UFC loss, ending a 20-fight unbeaten professional streak.
Petr Yan retained the UFC bantamweight title by decision over Merab Dvalishvili, who held a UFC-record 119 takedowns, on October 24, 2026.

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