As each fight brings him closer to the end of his UFC career, Volkanovski enjoyed the support of fans inside the arena as he made the familiar walk to the Octagon.
For Evloev, the first title fight of his UFC career – seven years after his debut – didn’t seem to overwhelm him, with the Russian immediately settling into the competition.
The first round was also closer than expected, with Evloev finishing the round with heavier strikes and takedowns despite the champion’s strong start.
But once Volkanovski turned the screw early in the second round, clipping his rival and momentarily sending him to the ground, it was only a matter of time before his dominance began to take its toll.
That moment came in the final minute of the round when, after overpowering Evloev with an overhand forehand, Volkanovski secured first place before producing a finishing sequence.
“He is like good wine: older, stronger, better. He is a true legend, I am grateful for this opportunity to be here,” Evloev said. “It’s a big lesson for me.
“I haven’t proven that I’m the best. I’m not there yet. Maybe we’ll try again. I need to go home, rest and recover from my injuries.
“Like I said, Alex is a great champion and I’m happy to be here to share the cake with him. It’s better to lose to a guy like him than to someone who isn’t as good as him.”
Gn sports
