MASVIDAL Will BET THE HOUSE On EVLOEV Against VOLKANOVSKI
“One of the strongest guys, period, at 145.”
Jorge Masvidal says his American Top Team training partner will wear down the champion with strength and pressure at UFC 333.
"I'm going to bet the house on him."
Jorge Masvidal said that about Movsar Evloev on the "Deep Waters" podcast. He was picking his training partner to beat Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333.
Evloev challenges for the featherweight title on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. It is the main event, and the odds are close to a pick'em.
Why Masvidal Believes It
Masvidal trains with Evloev at American Top Team. He said he has seen the improvement up close for years.
His case is simple. Evloev does not fade, and he does not let opponents reset after they stand up.
He shoots again, locks the body, or goes back to the leg. Over five rounds, Masvidal expects that pressure to wear on the champion.
"One of the strongest guys, period, at 145."
— Jorge Masvidal, on "Deep Waters," via MMA Junkie
The Numbers Behind The Pick
Evloev is 20-0 in MMA and 10-0 in the UFC. Volkanovski is 28-4 in MMA and 15-3 in the UFC.
Volkanovski, 38, brings far more title-fight experience. Evloev, 32, brings a perfect record and a style built on control.
That clash is the fight. Can the champion keep getting up and keep scoring for 25 minutes?
What Masvidal Sees Changing
Masvidal said Evloev is harder to read now. The shot can come at any moment, and so can a punch.
He also praised Evloev's clinch work. That matters against Volkanovski, who is famous for staying calm in hard spots.
Let that sink in. This is not a fan picking a name. This is a teammate who feels the grip in training and still says it does not fade.
You love to see it — a legend putting real money behind his pick before a title fight.
So will Evloev's pressure be too much for Volkanovski, or will the champion prove once again that experience beats the perfect record?
