Alexander Volkanovski’s expressed preference for a late-summer or early-fall return has positioned undefeated featherweight contender Movsar Evloev as the clear frontrunner for his next bout. Evloev extended his perfect record to 20-0 with a majority-decision victory over Lerone Murphy in March, solidifying his status as the division’s top-ranked challenger and prompting Volkanovski to publicly endorse the matchup. The champion’s comments on targeting the highest-ranked available opponent, combined with his desire for three fights in 2026 following the February title defense against Diego Lopes, have driven trader consensus toward Evloev. Potential shifts could arise from injuries, a sudden booking with another ranked fighter such as Aljamain Sterling or Jean Silva, or changes in UFC scheduling priorities that alter the contender order before an official announcement.