Volkanovski expects UFC featherweight title defense vs. Movsar Evloev, but says the announcement is taking longer than planned

Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, indicated he expects his next title defense to line up against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev. But during a Washington appearance, Volkanovski also acknowledged that the bout is not yet “locked in,” with the announcement taking longer than he originally anticipated.

Volkanovski framed the delay as a product of the UFC’s broader calendar, describing it as a scheduling challenge involving multiple champions and large upcoming events. He said he wants the fight not only announced, but finalized, while accepting that the promotion has to complete steps with its remaining matchups and logistics.

The champion pointed to a near-term cluster of attention for the UFC, including UFC Freedom 250 commanding much of the organization’s immediate focus, and he suggested momentum toward his own next defense would increase after that event concludes. He also referenced the UFC schedule extending into other major properties, including Conor McGregor’s fight at UFC 329.

When asked about timing, Volkanovski said he was looking at an August-to-September window and that September has been mentioned frequently in conversations around the division. He indicated that dates “that look good” are still being evaluated, and he expects news soon rather than later.

Volkanovski also set the discussion against his personal timeline, saying his 38th birthday falls on Sept. 29. He said an earlier defense would have been ideal, but he did not dismiss the idea of defending the belt at 38, essentially treating it as a storyline-friendly possibility if UFC’s schedule requires it.

On the opponent side, the pairing being discussed is one with clear stakes within the featherweight title picture. Evloev enters the matchup conversation as a 20-0 contender, and Volkanovski’s comments reinforce that the UFC’s next featherweight championship fight is being organized around the most prominent challenger available rather than reshuffling the contenders ladder.

UFC has not, in the reporting referenced here, provided an official event date or confirmation that Evloev is definitively booked. That means the next step is the promotion itself: once UFC finalizes its match planning, the championship announcement and event placement should resolve whether the defense lands in the early September window or slips closer to late September.