Volkanovski KOs Evloev in round 2; Yan retains bantamweight title at UFC 333

At UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24, 2026, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defeated unbeaten challenger Movsar Evloev by knockout in the second round, cementing his legacy as the greatest 145-pounder in UFC history. Volkanovski, 38, delivered an uppercut and straight left that rocked Evloev before finishing with ground-and-pound. The victory gave Volkanovski his ninth featherweight title defense, surpassing Jose Aldo's previous record. Evloev, who entered the fight with a perfect 20-0 record, took Volkanovski down three times in the opening round but could not maintain control.

In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Petr Yan successfully defended his title against Merab Dvalishvili in their trilogy bout, winning by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the contest 48–47 in Yan's favour. Dvalishvili, the former champion, pressed the action with repeated takedown attempts in the first two rounds, but Yan regained momentum with a liver kick in round three and dominated the final rounds with superior striking, landing combinations that visibly affected his challenger.

Both champions' next opponents remain under discussion. Volkanovski has indicated interest in pursuing a lightweight title opportunity, either against champion Ilia Topuria—whom he lost to at UFC 298 in 2024—or against Justin Gaethje if the latter retires. He has stated he will not hold up the featherweight division while pursuing this opportunity. For Yan, Sean O'Malley represents the most prominent available challenger, holding a controversial decision victory over the champion from 2022, though Song Yadong also has a case for a title shot.

Evloev faces the prospect of rebuilding after his first career loss, likely facing lower-ranked contenders before returning to title contention. The UFC 333 card also featured victories by English flyweight Lone'er Kavanagh (first-round finish), heavyweight Alexander Volkov (unanimous decision, age 38), and American featherweight Aaron Pico (first-round stoppage).