BUZZ UFC 333: Volkanovski stops Evloev while sick, offers to retire or vacate for 155 fight

Volkanovski did more than keep his featherweight title in Abu Dhabi. He turned a win over an unbeaten challenger into a pitch: a fight with Justin Gaethje is, in his words, "something I'd retire for." Nothing is booked, and the lightweight champion has not responded publicly.

The plan has a second version. If Gaethje retires, Volkanovski says he would vacate the 145-pound belt and fight Arman Tsarukyan for the vacant lightweight title, and he says that fight now excites him more. Tsarukyan told Helen Yee Sports he would take it, calling Volkanovski old with a bad chin. Chael Sonnen called the retirement idea one of the dumbest he has heard and said anyone who wants to test himself at 155 should vacate and move up with no guarantee, as Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway did. Dana White said it is hard to say no to Volkanovski.

He also fought through illness. Volkanovski said he started getting sick before the fight and still felt fit enough to win. Several outlets reported he refused medication to avoid any sporting advantage, and Knockout Daily reported he would not take even an ibuprofen. It was his first finish since July 2023, and at 38 he has been knocked out by Islam Makhachev and Topuria in the past. That history shapes his own outlook: "One hard knock to the brain, a concussion and that's that," he told Ariel Helwani, adding that he is content and weighing his options.

If he stays at featherweight, the queue is forming. Jean Silva, 29, has won two straight since his loss to Diego Lopes and posted "I'm next" from cageside. Volkanovski's coach Joe Lopez said Silva has not earned it, and Silva answered on Helwani's show that he does not accept that, noting the UFC fan vote that named him. Volkanovski himself says Aljamain Sterling deserves the shot if he beats Kevin Vallejos at UFC Qatar on Nov. 21, and that if Sterling loses, it is just Silva.

For Evloev, 32, it is the first loss of his career, and the ending is debated. Paddy Pimblett accused him of quitting. His teammate Dustin Poirier said that if Evloev was in his right mind he quit on himself, but if he was hurt and disoriented he was simply beaten.

Watch for Gaethje's decision on his future, which is expected in the coming months, and for the result in Qatar. Until one of those moves, Volkanovski's next opponent is open.