Volkanovski to defend UFC title against Movsar Evloev

Alexander Volkanovski has his next UFC featherweight title defence locked in, with the Australian champion booked to face undefeated contender Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24.

The official UFC 333 event listing confirms the championship bout will headline the card at Etihad Arena. Australian middleweight Cam Rowston is also scheduled to compete, facing Abus Magomedov on the preliminary card.

Volkanovski faces unbeaten challenger at UFC 333

The booking gives Volkanovski his next assignment after retaining the featherweight championship against Diego Lopes by unanimous decision at UFC 325 in Sydney. His official UFC profile lists him as the reigning featherweight champion.

Evloev enters the title fight with an unbeaten professional record. The Russian contender has built his position through a run defined by controlled grappling and decision victories, presenting a different challenge to many of Volkanovski’s recent opponents.

Rowston’s meeting with Magomedov adds further Australian interest to the Abu Dhabi card. The Sydney middleweight is listed to face the experienced Magomedov in a three-round bout.

Watch the full Australian MMA news update for discussion of the announcement and the latest local fight developments: [ADD VIDEO LINK].

Quillan Salkilld climbs the UFC lightweight rankings

Perth lightweight Quillan Salkilld has continued his rapid rise following his first-round submission victory over Mateusz Gamrot on August 8.

The official UFC result records Salkilld winning by submission at 4:25 of the opening round. The result moved him to No.6 in the UFC’s Meta rankings and No.8 in the media rankings at the time of publication.

The latest update also revisited Salkilld’s interest in fighting Paddy Pimblett. Salkilld has nominated the English lightweight as a potential opponent, but the UFC has not announced a bout between them.

Injuries reshape Eternal MMA 109 and HEX 39

Two anticipated Australian title fights have been removed from upcoming domestic cards.

Oscar Marlow has withdrawn from his Eternal MMA 109 bout against Val Sharipov due to injury. The promotion confirmed the withdrawal ahead of its return to Geelong Arena on August 22.

The Eternal MMA 109 event listing confirms the card will proceed in Geelong, where Sam Marles and Loni Filimoehala are scheduled to contest the vacant Eternal welterweight championship.

HEX Fight Series has also lost its welterweight title fight between Hoshi Friedrich and Jack James. The promotion said Friedrich was ruled out with a fractured nose and orbital, while a replacement opponent could not be secured for James.

Josh Grove and Alastair Volders will instead contest the vacant featherweight championship in the new HEX 39 main event at Melbourne Pavilion on August 29.

Jesse-James Parr booked for Eternal MMA 110

Jesse-James Parr will return to the amateur ranks against undefeated prospect Ash Bristow at Eternal MMA 110 on September 12.

The match-up announced by Eternal MMA will take place at Southport Sharks on the Gold Coast. Parr, the son of Australian Muay Thai figure John Wayne Parr, made his amateur MMA debut at Eternal MMA 108.

The bout gives both developing fighters an opportunity to test themselves against another highly regarded Australian prospect without waiting until their professional careers.

Aaron Tau wins as James Vake prepares for PFL Tampa

Aaron Tau recorded a third-round victory over Jesse Travers at World Bare Knuckle Fighting’s Bare Bones III. The promotion’s official result post confirmed the round but did not specify the official method of victory.

In grappling, Josh Allsopp won the StreetX AD and Scrap Mats 16-man tournament, collecting the event’s $10,000 winner-takes-all prize.

New Zealand’s James Vake is also set for an international appearance this weekend. Vake will meet unbeaten Irish welterweight Eoin Sheridan at PFL Tampa on Saturday, August 22 in the United States, which places the bout on Sunday morning for Australian viewers.

The official PFL fight card lists Vake at 7-2 and Sheridan at 5-0. Their preliminary-card contest will form part of the event headlined by Cris Cyborg and Ketlen Vieira.

Watch the complete Australian MMA news update for the full rundown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpleMeD3rU0&t=21s

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