As each fight brings him closer to the end of his UFC career, Volkanovski embraced the support of the fans inside the arena as he made the familiar walk to the Octagon.
For Evloev, the first title fight of his UFC career – seven years after his debut – didn’t seem to overwhelm him, with the Russian settling into the contest straight away.
The first round was also closer than most expected, with Evloev finishing the round with more significant strikes and takedowns despite the champion’s strong start.
But once Volkanovski turned the screw at the start of the second round, clipping his rival and momentarily sending him to the floor, it seemed only a matter of time before his dominance began to take its toll.
That moment came in the final minute of the round when, after overpowering Evloev with an overhand right, Volkanovski secured top position before producing a finishing sequence.
“He’s like good wine – older, stronger, better. He’s a true legend, I’m grateful for this opportunity to be here,” said Evloev. “This is a great lesson for me.
“I didn’t prove that I am the best. I’m not there yet. Maybe we’ll try again. I need to go home, get some rest and recover from my injuries.
“As I said, Alex is a great champion, and I’m glad to be here to share the cake with him. It’s better to lose to a guy like him than to someone who isn’t as good as him.”