UFC title or not, Movsar Evloev willing to chase Ilia Topuria to lightweight

Fighting Ilia Topuria is not about the UFC title for Movsar Evloev.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) vacated his UFC featherweight belt for a move up to 155 pounds before Evloev (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) got his opportunity at a title shot.

Evloev’s goal is to first capture the 145-pound belt, but still wants to face Topuria – even if he has to follow him to lightweight. The pair were booked to fight each other at UFC 270 in January 2022, but Evloev withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19.

“Yeah, I’m making my backpack for 155 (pounds), but first of all, I need this (featherweight) title, and then I’ll go after him,” Evloev told Home of Fight. “Not fighting for the title necessarily, but him.

“He beat almost everyone in the featherweight division, so he’s stronger than everybody here – except me. Me and him, there’s a question between us. I will let people know who is the strongest featherweight, even if we fight at lightweight.”

Topuria’s goal is to immediately challenge UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev upon his arrival to the division. If “El Matador” does get his wish, Evloev doesn’t like his chances.

“Islam for sure, but it’s MMA, everything can happen,” Evloev said. “He has enough power, and if Islam will be ready for the fight, he will definitely beat this guy easy.”

Despite Evloev’s run in the featherweight division, which includes three-straight wins over Deigo Lopes, Arnold Allen and Aljamain Sterling, he won’t be getting a title shot next. Instead, Alexander Volkanovski and Lopes will battle for the vacant featherweight belt in the UFC 314 main event April 12 at Kaseya Center from Miami.