Kevin Vallejos says the path he wants runs through Alexander Volkanovski, but only if Volkanovski keeps the title first. The unbeaten-leaning contender is scheduled to face Aljamain Sterling in the co-main event of UFC Qatar on Nov. 21, and he said a big win there could push him into a championship conversation with Volkanovski.
Vallejos, who has won four fights in a row in the UFC, put the choice plainly: he would like Volkanovski to beat Movsar Evloev because, if he knocks Sterling out, he would like to fight Volkanovski next. He also said he would like to take the title away from Volkanovski, turning his next bout into more than a ranking test. For Vallejos, the timing matters because UFC 333 is already set to shape the division’s future, and his preferred road only stays open if the champion remains the same.
That is why Sterling matters so much to the story. Vallejos said even a decision over the former champion could still help him, because it would show takedown defense and the ability to go three rounds against a veteran who knows how to manage five-round fights. A knockout would make the case louder, but Vallejos said a strong win either way could put him in line as the next contender. He has only one loss in 19 professional MMA bouts, and that came in a three-round war with Jean Silva at Dana White's Contender Series in 2023.
The problem for Vallejos is that the title picture is not built around wishes. Evloev has already earned his shot after 10 octagon victories, and those wins include decisions over Arnold Allen, Aljamain Sterling and Lerone Murphy. Volkanovski enters UFC 333 coming off back-to-back wins over Diego Lopes, while Evloev has the kind of résumé that makes the title route feel earned rather than borrowed. If Vallejos beats Sterling in November, he may still have done enough to force his way into the conversation, but his preferred opponent after that will depend on who is left holding the belt.
That leaves Vallejos chasing two things at once: a statement win against Sterling and a champion he can still call out afterward. If both happen, the case for a title shot gets harder to ignore. If not, the division’s next opening may already belong to someone else.
