Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
A packed Etihad Arena prepares to host UFC 333 this weekend, featuring two championship bouts that headline a card filled with top international mixed martial arts talent. In the main event, featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski defends his belt against top-ranked challenger Movsar Evloev.
Volkanovski enters the fixture aiming to secure his ninth title win in the division, which would surpass the record held by Jose Aldo. At 38, though, the Australian’s best form may be behind him, but Volkanovski averred he was ready and confident of a good show on Saturday.
"Performance-wise, yes,” he said. "I'm not trying to lie to everyone and say like I'm the exact person I was when I was 22 years old. I'm not saying that, but that don't matter. I'm still in incredible shape. I'm still so explosive. We obviously know I've got that fight IQ. I truly do believe like I can go out there and look the best I've ever looked."
Addressing the tactical challenge posed by his undefeated opponent, Volkanovski remarked: "I just think stylistically, it's a great match-up for me. He does bring a lot of challenges. These are definitely challenges that a lot of other fighters will struggle with, not just me. So these problems, I'll be smiling through the challenges he's going to give me."
He added: "What I put myself through in training camp and throughout my career, I'm not going to crumble. I'm never going to panic. That's not going to happen. Like, bring it on. You can try and take me down all day, even if you get me down. I'm going to be smarter and I'll get back up."
He insisted in the same breadth that it will not come to that, even if his opponent is perceived to have a better wrestling skillset. “I’m prepared for an absolute war. That's just how it is. But I think I can go out there and take him out, and that's not a knock on him, it's just stylistically where I think we're matched and how I'm going to approach this fight."
Asked about the historic milestone of breaking Jose Aldo's record, he insisted: "I don't care about it. It is cool, but that's not what drives me. The most important thing is the challenges that are in front of me and getting through them. That's what puts a smile on my face."
Opposing him is Movsar Evloev, who brings a 20-fight undefeated record into his first UFC championship opportunity. Reflecting on his journey, Evloev said: "I have been waiting seven years since I signed with the UFC for this moment. Now, it's just three days until the historical moment for me, for my family. I'm grateful for this moment, for this opportunity."
Commenting on the possibility of the fight going the distance, he noted: "I had a couple of five-round fights too. I do a lot of sparring every week, like twice a week, since I was 20, and I got enough experience to fight for five rounds.
“To become the best, you need to be champion of your division. In my mind, I won this fight 1,000 times. Mentally, I'm ready, and on Saturday, I'm gonna show you."
When asked what it would mean to walk out as champion, he explained: "I have some feelings inside, but it's hard to explain, and I prefer explaining when I win the belt, not before."
The co-main event features bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan defending his belt against Merab Dvalishvili. The card also features Lone’er Kavanagh vs Ramazan Temirov, Alexander Volkov facing Rizvan Kuniev, and Aaron Pico taking on Losene Keita.
