‘Time is over’: US coach’s shock Volk prediction... and the others Aussies to watch on epic card

Alexander Volkanovski has no issue admitting that, yeah, unbeaten Russian bogeyman Movsar Evloev has incredible wrestling.

But the kicker?

"It's just not enough," Australia's No.1 fighter stressed this week.

After a staggering 11 straight UFC title fights, Volkanovski is once again looking to defend gold at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi this Sunday - taking on the undefeated wrasslin' phenom who has never tasted defeat.

UFC 333: Volkanovski v Evloev | SUN 25 OCTOBER 5AM AEDT | The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi where Volkanovski is seeking his 7th successful title defense in a highly anticipated match up against the undefeated Movsar Evloev. | Order now on Kayo Sports.

Alexander Volkanovski of Australia and Movsar Evloev of Russia face off during the UFC 333 press conference at Crypto.com Arena on September 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.Source: Getty Images

With Volk now almost three years removed from his brutal championship loss against Ilia Topuria, the future Hall of Famer is looking to further cement his legacy in a second title reign already boasting consecutive wins over Brazilian Diego Lopes.

And should the Aussie now hand Evloev his first professional loss … well, his stocks only rise again.

However, on the eve of Volkanovski's latest UFC title headliner, one American coach has boldly declared the champion's run at the top over.

HOW BIG IS EVLOEV'S WRESTLING THREAT?

Um, big enough that bookies both here and in the United States all have this as a pick 'em contest.

Apart from being undefeated in all 10 UFC appearances, Evloev has also never tasted defeat in a dozen years and 20 straight fights.

And that tear is largely being built on an emphatic wrasslin' dominance that has already seen the Russian land 49 takedowns inside the Octagon.

Tellingly, almost half of those takedowns have come against four elite level fighters in Lerone Murphy, Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen and Diego Lopes.

Quizzed on all that this week, Volkanovski replied with an agreeing nod: "Incredible wrestling.

"One of the best in the UFC, definitely the best in our division. But it's just not enough for me, you know what I mean?"

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HOW DOES VOLK NEGATE SAID THREAT?

According to numbers presented by MMA Fighting this week, Volkanovski has been victorious in all but three of 18 UFC bouts over the past decade while giving away only 10 takedowns in featherweight bouts.

Elsewhere, Islam Makhachev managed to take the Aussie down four times in their first clash, but that was at lightweight.

"But to be honest," Volk continued of Evloev, "if we went five rounds of no strikes and just wrestling, grappling, I'll beat him there.

"I truly believe that. I think he's got great wrestling, but when it comes to MMA and all that sort of stuff, it's just not enough. I get to show that anyway.

"But at the same time, I've got a lot of respect for him.

"He's a great fighter, great wrestler. Again though, these things are not problems for me. Even if you get me there, I'm not going to panic. We know I'm going to get back to the feet and the damage that he's going to try and do in those positions, it's going to be impossible."

COACH'S WARNING FOR VOLK …

Speaking elsewhere this week, Evloev's American coach Mike Brown warned that Volkanovski, who is now 38, and nearing the end of his career, simply won't be able to keep pace with the unbeaten Russian prospect.

"He may be arguably the greatest featherweight of all time," Brown started of Volkanovski during a candid fight week chat with Adam Zubayraev. "Maybe, him or [Jose] Aldo.

"But his time is ticking. I think his time is over.

"He's not in his prime anymore.

"(Evloev though) is in his absolute physical prime. He's a physical monster.

"His conditioning is unbelievable, his strength is unbelievable, he's got no fat, he's so strong, so quick. His endurance is through the roof.

"It's a major problem to deal with this guy, for anybody.

"Volk isn't the best he's ever been and I think that's gonna show. In a long fight especially, something is gonna give. You can't take Evloev for 25 minutes, nobody can".

WHAT ARE THE BOOKIES SAYING?

Sportsbet currently has the main event as a pick 'em fight, with both Volkanovski at Evloev at $1.92.

The TAB, meanwhile, has Volkanovski as the $1.85 favourite, with Evloev slightly wider at $1.95.

When it comes to a Sportsbet market for how the UFC featherweight title is won, Volk is paying $3.05 for a decision win, $5.10 for a KO/TKO, and $21 for a submission.

Across the other side of the cage, Evloev is paying $2.55 to win on points, $9.50 for the KO/TKO and $13 for a submission finish.

WHAT'S THE AUSTRALIAN ANGLE?

Apart from Volk looking to continue his second UFC title reign - and further cement his legacy among the sport's greats - another three Australian fighters will also be throwing down on the undercard: Cam Rowston, Jacob Malkoun and Colby Thicknesse.

While all three go into their respective bouts as underdogs, Rowston looks the strongest chance of causing an upset against his top 15 rival Abus Magomedov - and is currently on a tear of seven straight wins since initially losing his 2024 DWCS shot.

The wonderfully-named 'Battle Giraffe' is also unbeaten in all three UFC appearances.

Malkoun, meanwhile, has promised to shock the MMA world in his showdown against Abubakar Vagaev - declaring "everyone's scared of these Russian guys, I'm not" - while Thicknesse, who is the main training partner for Volkanovski, will be also looking to win his supporters some big money as a $5 betting outsider.

WHAT ABOUT THE UFC 333 CO-MAIN?

Another cracker, with UFC bantamweight champ Petr Yan defending against former division king Merab Dvalishvili, in what also doubles as a hyped trilogy fight between the pair.

While Yan dominated Dvalishvili last December to win the belt, the opposite was true in their first encounter which is why the Russian is now promising to end their rivalry with a dominant display.

"I want to win in spectacular, decisive fashion," Yan declared this week. "So neither the judges nor the spectators have any questions left about my story with Merab".

HOW DO I WATCH?

Australian fight fans can see UFC 333 LIVE on Main Event via Kayo.

Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.

Fox Sports Australia will also be running a live blog of the event.

UFC 333: Volkanovski v Evloev | SUN 25 OCTOBER 5AM AEDT | The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi where Volkanovski is seeking his 7th successful title defense in a highly anticipated match up against the undefeated Movsar Evloev. | Order now on Kayo Sports.

WHEN DOES IT START?

The UFC 333 main card starts this Sunday, October 25 at 5am AEST. Expect Volk to hit the Octagon some time after 7am AEDT.

FULL UFC 333 FIGHT CARD

MAIN CARD

Alexander Volkanovski v Movsar Evloev - for featherweight title

Petr Yan v Merab Dvalishvili - for bantamweight title

Lone'er Kavanagh v Ramazan Temirov

Alexander Volkov v Rizvan Kuniev

Aaron Pico v Losene Keita

PRELIMS

Azamat Murzakanov v Dominick Reyes

Nikita Krylov v Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev

Abusupiyan Magomedov v Cameron Rowston

Grant Dawson v Nurullo Aliev

EARLY PRELIMS

Colby Thicknesse v Asaf Chopurov

Abubakar Vagaev v Jacob Malkoun

Bolaji Oki v Daniel Santos

Kody Steele v Noah Gugnon

Iasmin Lucindo v Nicole Caliari