Alexander Volkanovski’s future in MMA could come into focus after UFC 333, but his longtime coach Joe Lopez isn’t convinced “The Great” will walk away from the sport if things don’t go his way.
Volkanovski will defend his UFC featherweight championship against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev in the UFC 333 main event in Abu Dhabi. While Evloev may not have the same star power as some of Volkanovski’s previous opponents, his perfect record has earned him a legitimate shot at the 145-pound title.
Volkanovski has already acknowledged that he is entering the later stages of his career. The former pound-for-pound king has continued to compete at the highest level, but he recently admitted that a difficult night against Evloev could potentially force him to consider retirement.
Lopez, however, believes Volkanovski’s competitive nature could make walking away much easier said than done.
Speaking to Submission Radio, Lopez explained that the decision ultimately belongs to Volkanovski. However, he believes the Australian champion could struggle to accept ending his career on a loss.
“At the end of the day, it’s his decision, not mine,” Lopez said of Volkanovski. “We’ll discuss it with him obviously and go through it but knowing Alex, if he loses, he’ll go, ‘I don’t want to go out on a loss and I want to come back and get it back. Come back on a win.’
“I just know how competitive he is. I just know the way he is so it’s a fine line or a two-edged sword that we’re playing here.”
That competitive fire has defined Volkanovski throughout his UFC career. Even after suffering setbacks, the former featherweight champion has consistently found a way to return to the top of the division.
Lopez also admitted that he would have been comfortable seeing Volkanovski retire after his first fight with Diego Lopes. Instead, “The Great” returned for another run at the title and continued to prove he still belongs among the elite.
“I was happy after the first Diego fight, I would have been happy if he went out then,” Lopez said. “Every fight is a gamble. The thing is Alex always comes in well prepared, and he’s looking probably better and stronger than he has done in a long time.”
Volkanovski now has another major challenge in front of him. Evloev enters UFC 333 with an undefeated 20-0 professional record and a perfect UFC mark, making him one of the most dangerous contenders the champion has faced in recent years.
