UFC 333: Volkanovski stops Evloev while sick, would retire for Gaethje 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."

The offer is built to keep divisions moving. He says he would retire win or lose, so the featherweight belt would not be held up, though he has not explained how that would work. Dana White said there is not much the UFC would say no to with him, and that it will see how it plays out. Gaethje, 37, has not responded publicly, and his own future is uncertain after he took the lightweight belt from Topuria in June.

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. Back in Australia he said he was glad it ended in two rounds because he doubted his lungs would hold up for five, and that there is more to the medication story he will share another day. It was his first finish since July 2023, when he stopped Yair Rodriguez, and at 38 he is the oldest man to defend the 145-pound belt, according to Knockout Daily.

There is a backup plan. Volkanovski told Brendan Bradford he would welcome a rematch with Topuria, who took the featherweight title from him in 2024, if it were for a lightweight title. He said Gaethje took Topuria's zero, so he cannot take that from him, but he would like the win back.

If he stays at 145, the queue is forming. Jean Silva posted "I'm next" on X, though Volkanovski's coach Joe Lopez said Silva has not earned a shot. Lopez would rather see Aljamain Sterling, who must first beat Kevin Vallejos. Arman Tsarukyan told Helen Yee Sports he would fight Volkanovski, calling him old, and Patricio Pitbull, 39, argued on X that he makes sense now.

For Evloev, 32, it is the first loss of his career, and the ending is now debated. He landed three of seven takedowns but could not hold Volkanovski down. Pimblett accused him of giving up. 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. Volkanovski rejects the criticism and says Evloev would walk through anyone else in the division.

Watch for Gaethje's response and any UFC move toward a lightweight booking. Without one, Volkanovski's next step at 145 remains open.