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UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has admitted that retirement could become a serious possibility depending on how his upcoming title defense against undefeated Movsar Evloev unfolds at UFC 333. The Australian veteran, who turns 38 in September, says he currently has no plans to walk away but will assess his future one fight at a time.
Volkanovski is scheduled to defend the featherweight championship against Evloev in the main event of UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
With roughly two months remaining before the fight, the champion has spoken openly about the possibility that his performance — and particularly the physical damage he takes — could determine whether he continues his career.
“If things go terribly wrong, all right, we’re done,” Volkanovski told Australia's 10 News.
“If things go very well like the last one, no damage, go through, all right, we'll keep it rolling.”
Volkanovski will decide his UFC future fight by fight
Volkanovski, who turns 38 on Sept. 29, is currently enjoying his second reign as UFC featherweight champion.
Despite acknowledging that retirement is becoming a realistic consideration at this stage of his career, the Australian insists he is not heading into UFC 333 with a predetermined plan to stop fighting.
“Taking each fight as it goes,” Volkanovski said. “I'm just trying to be real with it. But I don't have plans of retiring right now.”
The comments suggest that the result alone may not determine his decision. How Volkanovski feels physically after facing Evloev could prove equally important.
A convincing victory without significant damage could extend his career, while a difficult night in Abu Dhabi may force him to reconsider his future inside the Octagon.
Back-to-back knockouts raised questions about his career
Volkanovski has a professional MMA record of 28-4, including 15-3 in the UFC, and has spent much of the past several years among the promotion's leading pound-for-pound fighters.
During his first reign as featherweight champion, Volkanovski successfully defended the belt five times before losing the title to Ilia Topuria in February 2024.
Topuria knocked him out with a punch, handing Volkanovski his second consecutive stoppage defeat.
Just four months earlier, Islam Makhachev had stopped the Australian with a head kick and follow-up punches when Volkanovski challenged for the lightweight championship.
Those two defeats sparked widespread questions about whether Volkanovski was approaching the end of his career.
Instead, the former champion responded by returning to the top of the featherweight division.
Volkanovski reclaimed the featherweight title
After Topuria vacated the 145-pound championship, Volkanovski was given the opportunity to reclaim the belt against Diego Lopes at UFC 314.
The Australian took advantage and became UFC featherweight champion for a second time.
Volkanovski then faced Lopes again at UFC 325 in February 2026, successfully defending his title with a unanimous decision victory.
His next challenge, however, presents a very different test.
Evloev enters UFC 333 with a perfect 20-0 professional record, including 10 consecutive victories in the UFC.
The undefeated challenger has established himself as one of the most difficult opponents in the featherweight division and will attempt to become the latest fighter to end Volkanovski's championship reign.
UFC 333 could determine Volkanovski's future
Volkanovski will be looking to make the second successful defense of his current title reign when he steps into the Octagon against Evloev in Abu Dhabi.
For the champion, however, UFC 333 could mean significantly more than another defense of the featherweight belt.
At nearly 38 years old and after years of competing against the UFC's elite, Volkanovski appears increasingly aware that every fight could influence how much longer he remains in the sport.
For now, retirement is not the plan.
But Volkanovski has made it clear that if UFC 333 goes badly, his showdown with Evloev could potentially become the final fight of his decorated career.
