Volkanovski has publicly backed Movsar Evloev as his next featherweight title challenger, citing the Russian’s undefeated UFC record and status as the clear top contender after his recent majority-decision win over Lerone Murphy. This preference, combined with Evloev’s elite wrestling and sustained momentum, has driven overwhelming trader consensus toward the matchup for a potential late-summer defense. Volkanovski’s recent title win over Diego Lopes further positions him to face the freshest high-level threat rather than rematches or lower-ranked options. Still, UFC matchmaking shifts, an Evloev injury, or a late pivot toward Jean Silva could realistically alter the timeline and open the door for other contenders.