Alexander Volkanovski after UFC 325: “If you deserve it, you’re next” Evloev and Murphy in pictures

Alexander Volkanovski made a decisive statement at UFC 325 on Saturdayin which he defended his featherweight title against Diego Lopes by unanimous decision in Sydney. The judges scored the fight 49-46, 49-46, 50-45, marking the first defense of his second championship reign and tying Jose Aldo’s record for most title fight victories in featherweight history.

Alexander Volkanovski about his next match

After the victory, Volkanovski made his expectations clear about future challengers. “I’m an easy-to-understand champion, man. If you deserve it, you’re next,” he said during the post-fight press conference. “I’ve never been the guy to try to protect anything or pick and choose. You go out there, you beat the right guys, you earn your spot and I’ll be there waiting for you. What I don’t like is people who try to skip the line. You can’t just cut the line because you talk loud or had a good night. There are killers in this division who have been fighting for that opportunity for years.”

The Australian champion expressed his frustration with fighters trying to bypass legitimate contenders. “I’ve always said the same thing: give me the worthy candidate. I built my legacy by taking out the number one contenders, not by chasing the easiest name or the biggest headline,” Volkanovski explained. “So if you want to get that shot, handle your business. Don’t look for shortcuts. Don’t ask to jump over guys who have been doing it longer and doing it against stronger opposition. You want the champion, you have to earn the champion.”

Volkanovski clarified his criteria for determining the next challenger beyond the official rankings. “I don’t care about the rankings on paper as much as I care about what you’ve actually done. Are you beating top guys? Are you taking out other contenders? That’s what matters,” he said. “If you’re in 11th place and you’ve taken out three killers in a row, we can talk. But if you’re trying to fight your way through while other guys are doing the hard work, I’m not really interested in letting that happen.”

At 37 years old, the champion emphasized his commitment to staying active while being selective in matchups. “I still want to be active. I don’t want to sit around and wait. But at the same time, I’m not in a rush to just fight anyone,” Volkanovski said. “At this stage of my career, every fight has to mean something. It has to advance my legacy, it has to be a challenge that excites me, and it has to be against someone who has truly earned the right to share that cage with me.”

When asked about specific opponents, Volkanovski named undefeated Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy as his preferred options. “You’ve got Movsar and Lerone Murphy. I’m told they’re going to face each other. I don’t know if that’s just rumors, but that will be great. I’ll look into that. If my next one is an absolute featherweight, it has to be one of those two,” he told reporters.

The UFC answered Volkanovski’s call just days later. Monday the promotion has officially announced that Evloev and Murphy will meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night on March 21 at the O2 Arena in London. The winner is expected to earn the next title shot against Volkanovski. Evloev, ranked number one in the division, has a perfect 19-0 record entering the fight, while Murphy is ranked number three with a mark of 17-0-1 and a nine-fight winning streak dating back to a draw in 2019.

Evloev has not competed since December 2024, when he defeated former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling by decision at UFC 310. His resume includes wins over Sterling, Diego Lopes and British contender Arnold Allen. Murphy last fought in August at UFC 319, where he stopped Aaron Pico with a spinning elbow in the first round, earning him widespread recognition as a candidate for Knockout of the Year.

“My legacy is built on consistency. It’s not just one big win or one big night; it’s showing up over and over again, taking on the toughest fights and still finding a way to raise your hand,” Volkanovski reflected. “People can say what they want, but you can’t argue about a body of work. That’s why I want worthy contenders, because every time I beat one, it adds another strong chapter to that story.”