Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Movsar Evloev (blue gloves) d reacts during the fight against Arnold Allen (red glove) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

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No Title Shot For Movsar Evloev As Fight Rebooked After Falling Apart Recently

Movsar Evloev forced to rebuild momentum with a rebooking of a fight after title plans fail to materialize!

The UFC featherweight division has always been a tricky beast to navigate. The division moves at its own pace and Movsar Evloev knows this feeling all too well. The undefeated Russian has been knocking on the door of a title opportunity for what feels like forever, building an impressive resume.The 31-year-old has never tasted defeat in his professional career, sitting pretty with a perfect 19-0 record.

Since joining the UFC roster back in 2019, he’s been on an absolute tear. Nine straight wins in the octagon tell a story of consistency and skill that’s hard to ignore. His victims include some serious names too, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, recent title challenger Diego Lopes, and the always dangerous Arnold Allen. Each victory moved him closer to that coveted number four ranking, and with it, the promise of bigger things to come.

But here’s where things get interesting, and maybe a little frustrating if you’re in Evloev’s shoes. Alexander Volkanovski, the current featherweight king, actually expressed interest in fighting the undefeated contender. Unfortunately for Evloev, the UFC had other plans brewing behind the scenes.

Also Read: Charles Oliveira Revels The Real Reason Behind Makhachev’s Move Up To Welterweight

Movsar Evloev To Welcome Aaron Pico

Instead of getting that title shot he has been working toward, Evloev finds himself matched up against Aaron Pico in a 5 rounder for UFC On ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi on July 26th. The fight was rumored to be signed before UFC 314 but allegedly Evloev had refused, citing his ambition to fight for the title. However, that hasn’t materialized. Pico brings serious credentials and name recognition to the table. The 28-year-old American has one of those backgrounds that makes fight fans sit up and take notice.He dominated college wrestling, made it to the Olympic team trials in 2016, and collected Golden Gloves and Pankration championships as a teenager.

Movsar Evloev has agreed to a 5-round bout vs Aaron Pico at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26th.

(Per Jamietheomma/x)#UFCAbuDhabi #AaronPico #MovsarEvloev #MMA pic.twitter.com/QtXmWoqKx9
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) May 23, 2025

When Bellator signed him, everyone expected fireworks. His professional debut told a different story though. A brutal 24-second submission loss that had people wondering if the hype was real. But Pico bounced back hard. He finished his next four opponents in the first round, reminding everyone why he was considered special.

Then came another reality check. Two devastating knockout losses in quick succession threatened to derail everything he had built. Getting knocked out in 67 seconds, then getting stopped again right after, would break most fighters’ spirits. Pico proved he had the heart of a champion though, going 9-1 in his last 10 fights with only a shoulder injury causing his lone defeat during that run.

The UFC’s decision to book Evloev against Pico instead of pushing for the title shot makes sense from a business perspective. They’re getting a former Bellator standout his UFC debut against one of their most promising contenders. For Evloev, it’s another chance to prove he belongs at the very top of the division, and if he wins, there will be no denying him the title shot next.

(Image Credit: Dan Hamilton – Imagn Images)

Aaron Pico

Movsar Evloev

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!