Alexander Volkanovski knocked out Movsar Evloev inside two rounds tonight in front of a packed house at the Etihad Arena.

One of the most beloved fighters in the sport, Volkanovski surprisingly received a relatively lukewarm response from the record-breaking Abu Dhabi crowd. A devout Muslim, Evloev walked out to a rare hero’s welcome from the 18,000 in attendance.

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For years, Evloev has been unable to earn a shot at featherweight gold – likely due to his drab fighting style that has seen him win nine UFC bouts without a single stoppage. He finally got his shot tonight, but was unable to survive against the legendary champion.

Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev UFC 333

Despite his wrestling pedigree, it took Movsar Evloev half of the first round to shoot in for the legs of Alexander Volkanovski. The champion immediately popped back up, and the pair’s striking exchange continued.

After five minutes it remained anyone’s fight, with the opening stanza almost impossible to score. The second was much of the same until the closing seconds when Volkanovski landed a big shot that seemed to badly hurt the unbeaten challenger.

Evloev looked to turn away from the fight altogether and hit the floor. Volkanovski smelled blood and pushed the pressure, forcing referee Marc Goddard to step in and call off the contest with just five seconds left until the bell.

After the fact, Volkanovski told Daniel Cormier that the lack of damage he suffered in tonight’s fight would lead him to consider fighting again. At 38 years of age, it remains to be seen what options remain for the legendary featherweight champion.