UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev and Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3 Preview

UFC 333 is one of the strongest cards of the fall. On Saturday night at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, two championships are on the line: Alexander Volkanovski defends the featherweight title against unbeaten Movsar Evloev, and Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili settle their bantamweight rivalry in a rare trilogy fight.

Weigh-Ins: Both Title Fights Are Official

The championship double-header is locked in. All four title fighters hit their marks at Friday's official weigh-ins:

Dvalishvili also made headlines after the scale, saying he put 19 pounds back on in just five hours.

Main Event: Volkanovski vs. Evloev

Alexander Volkanovski is a two-time featherweight champion and one of the best fighters of his generation. At 38, he insists age is not slowing him down, promising one of the finest performances of his career and saying that retirement and fighting at 40 "don't scare" him.

Across the cage is Movsar Evloev, an undefeated grappler who has spent years climbing the rankings. This is his first title shot, and his wrestling-heavy style is a real test for any champion.

Volkanovski is already thinking big. Before fight week he called for a "send-off" superfight against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, but he has to get past Evloev first.

Co-Main Event: Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3

Trilogies are rare in the UFC. This is only the latest entry in a short list of three-fight series in the promotion's history, and it is a true rubber match:

• March 2023: Dvalishvili beat Yan by unanimous decision.
• December 2025, UFC 323: Yan won the rematch by decision to become a two-time bantamweight champion.

Petr Yan enters as the champion. Merab Dvalishvili, the former champ known for relentless pressure and nonstop takedowns, wants his belt back. ESPN's breakdown frames it as a battle of decisions: Dvalishvili has tweaked his game plan, while Yan has gone all-in on his.

Other Stories Around the UFC

• Michael "Venom" Page's UFC run is over, raising questions about how his MMA legacy will be remembered.
• Khamzat Chimaev says Sean Strickland should take a rematch "if he wants to get paid."
• Mike Malott entered ESPN's welterweight rankings after a highlight-reel knockout.

Big fights are also coming in boxing, including Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua in Cardiff. Follow every fight night in our UFC and boxing coverage.

Related reading: Michael 'Venom' Page's UFC exit and union call.