Movsar Evloev, often regarded as the rightful No. 1 contender for the UFC Featherweight Championship, appears to be in a challenging position. Despite his impressive track record, Evloev finds himself waiting for his opportunity as Diego Lopes gears up for a title fight against reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 325 this Saturday.
UFC Hall of Famer and color commentator Daniel Cormier recently expressed concerns about Evloev’s situation, suggesting that he might be in a tougher position than fellow fighter Arman Tsarukyan. In a video on his YouTube channel, Cormier emphasized the lack of momentum for Evloev, stating, “There’s one guy getting done worse than freaking Arman Tsarukyan; it is Movsar Evloev. He hasn’t even gotten any type of traction towards a championship fight.”
Volkanovski himself weighed in on the situation during an interview with Sporting News Australia, revealing that he initially hoped Evloev would be his next title challenger. “I called for Movsar straight after the fight,” Volkanovski said, explaining that Evloev’s inability to secure a subsequent matchup led to his opportunity slipping away. He expressed empathy for Evloev, acknowledging that while he deserves a title shot, the realities of fight scheduling can be unforgiving.
Evloev has not competed since a unanimous decision win over Aljamain Sterling in late 2024, which improved his professional record to an impressive 19-0. Having missed all of 2025, speculation about his next fight has emerged, with rumors suggesting a matchup against Lerone Murphy in March, although the UFC has yet to confirm this bout.
As fans await further developments regarding Evloev’s fighting future, there remains optimism that he will re-enter the octagon soon and continue his path toward a championship opportunity.