Alexander Volkanovski has a title defense against Movsar Evloev in less than three weeks, and he’s already sizing up who could be next. Speaking on the Precision Podcast, the 38-year-old featherweight champion singled out 18-1 Argentine Kevin Vallejos as the contender who’s caught his eye, as Bloody Elbow reported.
“There’s one guy, I haven’t watched enough of him but I’ve seen some highlights, he looks like a little animal, he’s Argentinian, Kevin Vallejos,” Volkanovski said.
He was careful to say the chatter wasn’t pulling his focus. “I never look past my opponent, like I am happy to talk about other opponents and fights after, knowing I am putting in the work for Movsar anyway,” he said.
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Evloev First
Volkanovski headlines UFC 333 on October 24 against Evloev, the undefeated 32-year-old Russian who spent a long stretch looking like he might get skipped over again. The booking took a while to come together, and Evloev has taken plenty of criticism from fans and fellow fighters along the way. Volkanovski stuck with him anyway, even with a top 10 full of more fan-friendly names.
The champion has said there’s exactly one scenario where he walks away after UFC 333: Evloev dominates him and the night goes badly wrong. He isn’t preparing for that outcome. His plan is to keep fighting into 2027, which is why the follow-up question matters.
Volkanovski also admitted the age math is on his mind. “I’ve watched a couple of guys there’s a few other ones but it’s just like, by the time they’ve done their work and they’re fighting for a title, will I still be there by then? I don’t know,” he said.
Who Is Kevin Vallejos
Vallejos, nicknamed “El Chino,” is 24 years old and currently ranked No. 10 at 145 pounds. He earned his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024 and has gone 4-0 in the promotion since. His most recent win came against Josh Emmett, a fight that set the record for the biggest age gap in UFC history.
The reward is a big one. Vallejos meets former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling on November 21. Beat Sterling and he jumps into the top five, which would put him squarely in the conversation for Volkanovski’s next defense if the champ gets past Evloev. The timing works in his favor, too. The two fights land four weeks apart, so a Vallejos win would arrive right when the UFC is figuring out what comes after UFC 333.
A 14-year age gap between champion and challenger would make for a fun promo package. It would also make for a fun betting market.
Sal’s Take
I’ll give Volkanovski credit for naming a guy ranked 10th instead of falling back on the usual line about fighting whoever the UFC puts in front of him. But a champion who’s openly wondering whether he’ll still be around when a contender is ready is a champion counting fights, and Evloev hasn’t lost a single one of his. Handle October 24 first. Then circle November 21, because a 24-year-old with one loss beating Sterling is the kind of result that moves lines on a title fight before it’s even booked.
