Evloev Likely Next For Volkanovski With UFC Abu Dhabi Win

Earlier this week, UFC CEO Dana White announced several fights for the July 26 UFC Abu Dhabi fight card. One of those bouts was the five-round co-main event between highly-ranked Movsar Evloev and coveted free-agent signee Aaron Pico. While announcing the bout, White added that with a win, Evloev is likely to be next in line to face UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Dana White On Stakes For UFC Abu Dhabi: Movsar Evloev Vs. Aaron Pico

“In the co-main event,” said White, “we have another five-round fight, between No. 4 ranked Movsar Evloev taking on the guy most people consider to be the top free agent in the world, Aaron Pico.

“Evloev is undefeated at 19-0 and one of the most intimidating guys at featherweight. Aaron Pico is a ridiculously violent striker and a very high-level grappler. Pico has had hype behind him since he was a teenager because of his skill and fighting style, which people compare him to the likes of Justin Gaethje or Dustin Poirier.

“If Movsar can get the victory, he will likely be the next contender for the title against Alexander Volkanovski.

“Expect this fight to be an absolute war.”

Volkanovski does not have his next title defense booked.

ForbesUFC Announces First Six Fights For July Abu Dhabi Fight CardBy Trent Reinsmith

UFC Abu Dhabi: Movsar Evloev Vs. Aaron Pico

Evloev (19-0) made his UFC debut in April 2019 in a featherweight contest against Choi Seung-woo. At the time he stepped into the UFC Octagon for the first time, Evloev was 10-0 and coming off a defense of the M-1 Global bantamweight crown. Evloev, defeated Choi via unanimous decision.

Over the next five years, Evloev would climb the featherweight rankings, facing progressively tougher opponents under the UFC banner. He is 9-0 under the UFC banner. In his most recent outing, the 31-year-old defeated former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling by decision at UFC 310 in a 145-pound scrap.

Evloev has an eight-fight winning streak at 145 pounds, one of his UFC wins came at a catchweight of 150 pounds. He has the fourth longest winning streak in the history of the division. Volkanovski’s 11-fight winning run between November 2016 and July 2022 is the second-longest UFC featherweight winning streak.

All nine of Evloev’s UFC wins have come via decision.

Pico (13-4) joined the UFC as a free agent earlier this year. Pico was with Bellator for his entire MMA career before departing as a free agent. The 28-year-old had an up-and-down run with the promotion, but he enters UFC Abu Dhabi on a three-fight winning streak. His record in his past 10 fights is 9-1. His only loss during that span, which dates back to January 2020, is a October 2022 TKO loss to Jeremy Kennedy in a fighter were the doctor stopped the bout because Pico dislocated his shoulder.

ForbesUFC Announces First Nine Fights For UFC 319 PPV Fight CardBy Trent Reinsmith

UFC Abu Dhabi: Movsar Evloev And Alexander Volkanovski Talk Potential Title Fight

In April after wining the vacant UFC featherweight title with a decision over Diego Lopes, Volkanovski spoke about who he could face next.

“If the UFC wants to give it to Yair [Rodriguez], I ain’t gonna stop that for him,” Volkanovski said. “I’ll be honest, before that fight [against Patricio Freire], I didn’t think if he won, he would be getting a shot. I’ll be honest, that didn’t come to mind. But now that he’s calling, I’m not going to be the one to say no. I’m going to leave everything to the UFC.

“Obviously, you’ve got guys like Movsar, who’s undefeated. I’d love to take that zero. We’ve got to see what the UFC say. I even seen him tweeting that he wants to fight someone in May and doing all this sort of stuff, so maybe he’s had the chats and they want him to have one more fight. So I don’t know that situation, but I’ll see how things are. I’d love to say I want to get straight back in there. I still do. But I’m gonna have to maybe look at a couple of things.”

As for Evloev, he’s been angling for a title fight for a while. He revisited that idea in April on social media.

UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card Date:

Saturday, July 26, 2025

UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card Location:

Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi

UFC Abu Dhabi Time:

Main Card: 3:00 p.m. ET

Preliminary Card: 12:00 p.m. ET

We will have more on UFC Abu Dhabi and the Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico fight as fight night approaches.