On October 24, 2026, Volkanovski defeated Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 and retained the featherweight title while breaking the record for the most UFC featherweight title fight wins, previously held by José Aldo. In the coming days, a campaign unveiled his new deal with Rainbet.
A Record-Breaking Night in Abu Dhabi
Volkanovski’s win over Evloev was always going to be hard as Evloev arrived at the fight unbeaten in 20 professional fights. Being the No. 1 contender, Evloev was a worthy opponent for any champion. Volkanovski experienced some problems in the first round. Evloev tried to take the bout to the ground and perform takedowns.
However, in the second round, Volkanovski finally found an opportunity to finish the fight. After a good punch from Volkanovski, he knocked out Evloev with a combination of punches. The referee stopped the fight at 4:54 of the second round when there were only six seconds left till the end of the round.
What Passing José Aldo’s Mark Means
The record is about wins in UFC featherweight title fights. Volkanovski secured his ninth win in UFC featherweight title fights against Evloev, thus surpassing Aldo’s previous record of eight wins. This is an important accomplishment since Aldo dominated the division and set a high bar.
The record of Volkanovski also shows how the two champions compare. First, Volkanovski won the title in 2019 and successfully defended it five times until he lost it in 2024. Next, he climbed back to the top and successfully defended the title twice after winning it in 2025. So he has a total of seven title defenses. This is the same number that is being used when discussing the comparison between the title reigns of both athletes.
The Rugby Player from the Illawarra
Long before he became a UFC champion, Volkanovski had already gained fame through rugby league in the Illawarra area of New South Wales. He’s from Wollongong and was a front-row player for his rugby team, a position that requires roughness and toughness. Fighting was not yet his main profession.
He also used to work in his family’s concreting company. Volkanovski has talked about juggling work, rugby and training in those early days. He was not a young prodigy whose future career in sports leagues was already certain. He was just trying out something new while maintaining his routine life. This also helps explain why he has such a straightforward attitude towards hard work.
A Late Start That Became a Full-Time Career
Volkanovski trained in Greco-Roman wrestling as a kid and was successful; by the age of 12, he had won two national championships in Australia. Nevertheless, he quit wrestling at the age of 14 to train in rugby league, playing as a front-row player.
At 22, in 2011, Volkanovski started training in mixed martial arts (MMA) during the off-season of rugby league in order to keep fit. However, what began as a fitness routine turned into an interest. He had to learn new techniques in striking, submissions and other fighting techniques. Soon after he quit rugby league and opted for MMA at the age of 23.
The Wins That Opened the UFC Title Door
Volkanovski became part of the UFC in 2016, where he started off with a strong statement by winning against Yusuke Kasuya. He continued making a name for himself by beating experienced opponents before getting to the turning point of his career in 2018. At UFC 232, he defeated Chad Mendes in the second round. Mendes was famous for his wrestling skills and aggressive approach. This victory meant that Volkanovski was ready to take on even tougher and more experienced opponents.
His next big challenge came when he faced José Aldo at UFC 237 in May 2019. Volkanovski won a unanimous decision in the third round. He used pressure and proper movement to restrict Aldo from doing anything during the fight. Looking back, this fight was very symbolic as Aldo was the fighter holding a record that Volkanovski would surpass in the future.
Three Wins Over Max Holloway
Volkanovski took the belt from Max Holloway in a victory at UFC 245 in December 2019. Holloway is a tough champion with a fast pace and a complete stand-up arsenal. Instead of outmatching Holloway in output, he used leg kicks, movement, and strategy to throw off the champion’s rhythm. He won by unanimous decision and got the belt.
Their second fight in July 2020 was much closer, and Volkanovski took the win by split decision. This result is disputed by many in some respects. The third fight at UFC 276 in 2022 gave him a chance to put his rivalry with Holloway to rest definitively without a doubt. He won again by unanimous decision. Three victories over such an opponent are few and far between. His trilogy cemented Volkanovski’s legacy at the top and became one of the major rivalries in modern featherweight history.
Ortega and More Title Defences
Another night that shaped Volkanovski’s reputation came at UFC 266 in September 2021. That was at UFC 266, in September 2021, when Ortega trapped the champ into a guillotine choke and then followed up with a triangle choke soon afterwards. For a few moments there, it seemed like Volkanovski was about to lose the title. Volkanovski found his escape from this position and came back to fighting standing up. Finally, Volkanovski went on to win the bout via unanimous decision.
This escape is one of the most replayed parts of this bout. This showed how the champ could keep his cool while a top-level submission artist threatened to finish the bout. Volkanovski followed this up with a stoppage in the fourth round of his bout against Chan Sung Jung in 2022 and defeated Holloway once again in their bout. Then in 2023, he knocked down Yair Rodriguez in the third round to once again protect the championship.
The Setbacks That Tested His Confidence
Furthermore, Volkanovski took risks outside his featherweight weight class. He fought Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight championship at UFC 284 in February 2023. Makhachev defeated Volkanovski by unanimous decision. Volkanovski agreed to take a short-notice rematch in October 2023 and was defeated in the first round. He chose to fight the best opponents, so these results didn’t come off as too shocking.
An even more shocking result happened at UFC 298 in February 2024 when Ilia Topuria knocked him out in the second round and became the featherweight champion. Volkanovski was a champion for many years, but the defeat proved that no one can stay on top forever. Later, Volkanovski admitted the importance of thinking about his future and health. This defeat did not negate all his achievements, but it left another question open. Could he come back after losing the belt and having two painful losses?
Winning the Belt Back
The answer to that question came in April 2025 at UFC 314. He fought for the vacant featherweight title against Diego Lopes and won by a unanimous decision after five rounds. That brought him back to the top but the job was not done yet. The rematch happened at UFC 325 in Sydney on January 31, 2026. Fighting in front of his fans, Volkanovski used his movement, timing, and experience to control everything. He won by a unanimous decision and held on to the title.
Volkanovski’s second bout with Lopes proved that his return was not a one-off event. He made adjustments and controlled the pace for 25 minutes. At an age when most fighters would be thinking about retirement, he was finding new ways to adapt.
Why Evloev Was a Serious Test
Evloev came to UFC 333 with an unbeaten record and a reputation for control. He had won his first ten UFC appearances, mostly by decision, and his wrestling gave him a clear route to challenge Volkanovski. Volkanovski had to prepare for more than striking. Evloev looked for takedowns and control in the opening round. Volkanovski defended, got back up and made the challenger pay for every slow entry. The second round became more open. Volkanovski landed a hard right, followed by combinations and forced Evloev to cover up. Once Evloev was hurt, Volkanovski did not give him time to recover.
He followed him to the canvas and landed enough unanswered punches for the referee to step in. The finish ended Evloev’s unbeaten run and gave Volkanovski his biggest win since reclaiming the belt.
Rainbet Entering the Picture
Volkanovski released a promotion for a partnership with Rainbet in the days following UFC 333. Volkanovski is listed on the website of Rainbet as a partner. In addition to a promotional video of him appearing to be skydiving, the use of the phrase “make it rain with Rainbet” added more character to the promotion than just another photo promoting sponsorship. This is a very large multi-year deal for the fighter, although the exact details have yet to be made public.
This partnership adds more value for the fighter off the mat. This also puts Rainbet’s brand next to a relevant name in the UFC instead of an old champion who has long passed his prime. The promotion also came during the time that people were still talking about Evloev being finished by him.
The Partnership Fits His Public Image
Volkanovski brings more than a belt to a brand. Fans know his direct interviews and sense of humour outside fight week. His social media also shows life away from training, including cooking and time with other fighters. That gives campaigns more than a face for a poster. Rainbet, for its part, has been building a visible group of combat sports partners, including fighters such as Justin Gaethje, Sean Strickland and Joshua Van.
Adding Volkanovski gives the roster a two-time featherweight champion with a long record of major fights and a strong Australian following. It also gives the company a link to a fighter whose appeal comes from both elite skill and a charismatic persona.
The Next Challenge
Volkanovski has not said that he is ready to walk away. After beating Evloev, he welcomed the idea of facing the next clear contender and said he still wants to compete. That fits a fighter who has often taken the hard route, though his next decision will need care. At 38, recovery and the length of training camps matter as much as the name across the cage. New challengers are waiting, and each defence brings a different style to solve.
Fans who follow the sport can keep track of the division and see how the market develops through current UFC Moneyline Odds, while remembering that odds are not predictions or guarantees. Volkanovski’s record is secure: he has passed Aldo for UFC featherweight title-fight wins. His comeback from the Topuria loss and finish of Evloev have given this stage of his career a strong shape.
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