“I have always believed that I can get the gold; for me, it’s only a matter of time,” said Evloev regarding being recognized as a future contender in the 145-pound weight class. “The only pity is that these people have only started to understand it now.
“I will do all that is necessary,” he added when asked what he needs to do in order to stand out in such a crowded, competitive field. “I will force each and every person to acknowledge my superiority.”
His words convey the kind of self-belief it takes to excel at this level and achieve greatness on the biggest stage in the sport. And Evloev believes with every fiber of his being that he is destined for greatness in the UFC.
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“This is a completely different level; this is what I was striving for,” he answered when asked to reflect on the positive takeaways from his first two years as a member of the featherweight ranks. “I am ready to play at such high stakes.
“But I do not stand in one place,” he continued. “I always change and evolve. With each fight the rates are higher and higher, and I am ready to show the best version of myself with each fight.
“After a year or two, I envision myself only with the UFC belt around my waist.”
Given the depth of talent in the featherweight division and his current position outside of the Top 15, a 12-to-24-month timeline for claiming championship gold is an ambitious goal for Evloev to set for himself.
But considering the unbridled success he’s already enjoyed and the abundance of upside he’s exhibited on the way to 13 consecutive victories, doubting he’s capable of achieving such a feat simply because of the difficulty involved doesn’t seem wise.
