Volkanovski Ends Evloev's Unbeaten Run With a Round 2 TKO

Alexander Volkanovski kept his UFC featherweight championship on Saturday night, stopping Movsar Evloev in the second round at UFC 333. Evloev arrived undefeated and left with his first loss. The referee waved it off at 4:54 of round two.

Evloev found success with his wrestling early. He scored a takedown in round one, then changed levels and dragged Volkanovski down a second time. Each time, the champion worked back to his feet.

Volkanovski started the fight with an inside leg kick and moved forward behind straight punches. He found a straight right while watching for the takedown he knew was coming, and he caught Evloev with an uppercut as the challenger shot in. Evloev powered through that shot anyway. Later in the round he landed two left hooks, and Volkanovski answered with a sharp jab and an attempt of his own to take the fight down. Evloev defended it.

The second round turns

Round two began with Volkanovski rushing forward with his hands going. Evloev ducked under a right hand and put the champion on his back, but Volkanovski reversed the position at once and ended up in side control. Evloev recovered to half guard while the champion landed ground-and-pound, then turned belly down and got back to his feet.

Volkanovski did not let him settle. He slipped a right hand and fired back with a big one of his own, and Evloev began moving backward. Evloev tied up in the clinch to slow the exchange, but once they separated, Volkanovski strung together combinations and the challenger had trouble avoiding them.

A massive right hand appeared to rock Evloev. Volkanovski followed him down and took top position with just over 35 seconds left in the round. He worked to posture up and create space, and Evloev tried to grab hold of him to break that posture. Volkanovski kept finding openings for more strikes until the referee stepped in.

Official result: Alexander Volkanovski def. Movsar Evloev by TKO in round two, 4:54.

Source: Cageside Press