Makhachev Says Volkanovski Is "Not at His Peak" — and He's Picking Evloev
Event: UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev — October 24, 2026, Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
Image credit: UFC.com
The most qualified voice in this argument just got quoted everywhere again.
Islam Makhachev has beaten Alexander Volkanovski twice — the second one a head-kick knockout at UFC 294 that nobody who saw it will forget. So when Makhachev talks about Volkanovski, people listen. And this week, his prediction for Saturday's main event is doing the rounds again. [1]
What he said
Makhachev is picking Movsar Evloev — and his reasoning is blunt. "But I think Movsar will manage with his youth," he said. "Honestly, Volkanovski is not at the same peak he was a couple of years ago, even though he is still one of the best fighters. I think it'll be a very competitive fight, but I hope Movsar will do his job." [1][2]
One honest note: the quote comes from an August presser, not this week. TalkSport put it back in front of everyone in a UFC 333 start-time piece updated this week, and fight-week timing did the rest. [1]
Why it stings
This is not some pundit guessing. Makhachev has shared the cage with Volkanovski across two fights and finished him once. "Not at the same peak" hits different coming from the guy who saw the peak up close — and then knocked it out. [2]
It also lines up with the uncomfortable math. Evloev is 20-0 with ten straight UFC wins, all by decision, and he averages 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes. Volkanovski is 28-4 and 38 years old. [3]
Where the numbers land
Honestly? Our own numbers agree with Makhachev. Our Volkanovski vs. Evloev head-to-head preview picks Evloev by unanimous decision — 4.78 takedowns per round against a 38-year-old is a math problem, and Evloev has never lost a round he truly needed. [3]
But plenty of fans are picking the champ — Laura Sanko called him "superior" and took him to keep the belt, as we covered in our fight week buzz roundup — and Volkanovski has made a career out of proving math wrong. Saturday night decides it. The full card is on the UFC 333 event page.
Sources
1. TalkSport — UFC 333 start-time piece (updated October 21, 2026), re-surfacing Makhachev's prediction
2. Ushatayka (YouTube) — Makhachev on Volkanovski vs Evloev, August presser — via Sherdog's report of the interview
3. OctagonStats — Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev head-to-head preview (records, tale of the tape, prediction)
Fight data compiled from public statistical sources (ufcstats.com) and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). OctagonStats is an independent database, not affiliated with UFC / TKO Group.