Movsar Evloev is set to face Arnold Allen in a much-anticipated UFC 297 fight, which comes four years after he has forced to withdraw from a scheduled bout at UFC 248. Originally, the unbeaten Russian was meant to face off against Douglas Silva de Andrade, who ended up pulling out from the event due to injury. Consequently, de Andrade was replaced by UFC debutant Jamall Emmers. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Evloev also withdrew from the match after sustaining several injuries in a motorcycle accident, leading to Giga Chikadze stepping in as the replacement.
Despite the accident, Evloev made a remarkable recovery and returned to the ring at UFC 257 later that year. He is now slated to face Allen, who recently lost to former featherweight kingpin Max Holloway. Evloev’s last victory was against Diego Lopes, but his matchup with Allen holds particular significance for a few reasons.
First and foremost, the fight has significant implications for the division. Additionally, Evloev and Allen’s rankings within the UFC could not be more different, with Allen ranked at #4 and Evloev at #9 in the featherweight category. A victory for Evloev against Allen could potentially boost his ranking considerably.
As both fighters approach UFC 297, they each have unique goals in mind. Evloev hopes to continue his undefeated run, while Allen aims to bounce back from his recent loss to Holloway. This setback in early 2023 marked the end of Allen’s winning streak within the promotion.
Known for his high-level wrestling and Greco-Roman experience, Movsar Evloev boasted an impressive 10-0 record before joining the UFC. Though he secured seven consecutive wins within the organization, his finishing rate diminished considerably; he has yet to defeat a single opponent within the promotion. Interestingly, every fight thus far has ended in a unanimous decision, with the exception of a split-decision victory against Nik Lentz.
