Dana White Signals Title Shot for Movsar Evloev with Win at UFC Abu Dhabi

UFC president Dana White has expressed frustration over fighter performance and pay, notably after a lackluster 2013 bout between Rory MacDonald and Jake Ellenberger, which White criticized for failing to deliver excitement despite pre-fight hype. More recently, White has addressed the career trajectory of undefeated featherweight Movsar Evloev, who remains a top contender but has yet to receive a guaranteed title shot despite a perfect 19-0 record and significant wins. White indicated that Evloev would likely receive a title shot if he defeats Aaron Pico at UFC Abu Dhabi in July, though no formal guarantee has been made, reflecting caution due to past announcements that did not materialize. Evloev's grappling-heavy style and lack of finishes have contributed to delays in his title opportunity, despite support from reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski, who had publicly advocated for Evloev's next shot. Additionally, Evloev brings prior championship pedigree from M-1 Global, where he held interim and unified bantamweight titles before joining the UFC. Separately, former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski recently revealed he gifted Dana White a limited-edition high-tech rifle shortly before being released from the promotion after a losing streak, highlighting the challenges fighters face in maintaining UFC status.