On Saturday, October 24, in Abu Dhabi.
It features two championship fights rather than a Fight Night card.
UFC 333 delivers a championship doubleheader in Abu Dhabi, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski defending his featherweight title against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev.
The co-main event features a third showdown between bantamweight champion Petr Yan and former champion Merab Dvalishvili.
With two title fights and consequential matchups across the heavyweight, featherweight and flyweight divisions, the card could reshape several championship races heading into 2027.
Event information
Early prelims: 10:00 a.m. ET
Prelims: 12:00 p.m. ET
Main card: 2:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
Viewing: Paramount+ in the United States;
Main event — Featherweight Championship
Alexander Volkanovski (Champion)
Australia · Technical striking · Championship experience
Volkanovski enters with a chance to add another significant title defence to his legacy.
His strengths include footwork, distance management, tactical adjustments and the ability to mix combinations with defensive wrestling.
Movsar Evloev (Challenger)
Russia · Undefeated · Wrestling pressure
Evloev brings an unbeaten 20–0 professional record and an exhausting wrestling attack.
His challenge is to turn his takedowns and positional control into sustained control time without allowing Volkanovski to dictate the striking exchanges.
Three keys to the main event
Takedown defence: Volkanovski needs to keep the fight standing or return to his feet quickly.
Pace and cardio: Evloev must maintain his wrestling pressure across five rounds.
Striking efficiency: Volkanovski’s cleaner combinations and movement could make the difference if he limits prolonged grappling exchanges.
Prediction: Volkanovski by unanimous decision.
Evloev’s wrestling makes him a dangerous challenger, but Volkanovski’s experience against elite competition and ability to adjust during a fight give the champion a narrow edge.
This prediction assumes Volkanovski can prevent Evloev from controlling extended portions of the bout.
Co-main event — Bantamweight Championship
Petr Yan (Champion)
Yan reclaimed the bantamweight championship with a strong performance in his previous meeting with Dvalishvili.
His boxing, body attacks, counterstriking and takedown defence will be central to his title defence.
Merab Dvalishvili (Challenger)
Dvalishvili is known for relentless forward pressure, repeated takedown attempts and extraordinary work rate.
He needs to make this fight uncomfortable for Yan and avoid allowing the champion to settle into a rhythm
Three keys to the co-main event
Dvalishvili must vary his takedown entries instead of repeatedly shooting from predictable positions.
Yan needs to defend the first attack and punish the challenger on the counter.
The championship could hinge on who controls the later rounds without losing technical discipline.
Prediction: Yan by unanimous decision.
Yan’s striking precision and improved defensive wrestling make him the pick, although Dvalishvili’s pace could swing the fight if he consistently secures takedowns
Remaining main card
Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Ramazan Temirov
Flyweight
A key opportunity for both fighters to move closer to title contention.
Kavanagh brings momentum from recent high-level competition, while Temirov has a strong finishing reputation.
Prediction: Kavanagh by decision.
Alexander Volkov vs. Rizvan Kuniev
Heavyweight
Volkov’s range, height and kickboxing present a difficult challenge.
Kuniev needs to close distance and make the exchanges physical to disrupt Volkov’s rhythm.
Prediction: Volkov by decision.
Aaron Pico vs. Losene Keita
Featherweight
Two explosive fighters meet in a bout that could deliver one of the night’s most entertaining striking exchanges.
Pico’s wrestling background adds another dimension, while Keita arrives with knockout power.
Prediction: Pico by decision
Preliminary bouts to watch
Abus Magomedov vs. Cam Rowston
Middleweight Magomedov’s experience against Rowston’s momentum
Grant Dawson vs. Nurullo Aliev Lightweight A tactical contest between accomplished grapplers
Colby Thicknesse vs. Asaf Chopurov Bantamweight An unbeaten newcomer tests himself against UFC experience
Abubakar Vagaev vs. Jacob Malkoun Middleweight Wrestling, positional control and conditioning
Bolaji Oki vs. Daniel Santos Featherweight Potentially fast-paced striking
Kody Steele vs. Noah Gugnon Lightweight Submission threats from both sides
Iasmin Lucindo vs. Nicolle Caliari Strawweight Lucindo’s experience against Caliari’s opportunity
Final outlook
UFC 333 is built around two compelling championship questions.
Can Volkanovski use his experience to stop an undefeated challenger, and can Yan establish himself as the leading force in the bantamweight division by defeating Dvalishvili again?
The main event favours Volkanovski’s tactical completeness, while the co-main event leans toward Yan’s striking and defensive adjustments.
If both champions deliver, Abu Dhabi could host a defining night for the UFC’s featherweight and bantamweight divisions.
