UFC 333 Set for Abu Dhabi with Volkanovski vs Evloev and Yan vs Dvalishvili Trilogy

Two world title fights will headline UFC 333 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 24. The main event in the UAE capital features a long-awaited featherweight title bout between champion Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev. Supporting this is a major co-main event where Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili will settle their rivalry in a trilogy bout.

The UFC announced the line-up during Saturday’s UFC 330 broadcast. Popular Aussie Volkanovski (28-4) has fought in Abu Dhabi twice before, defeating Max Holloway by split decision at UFC 251 in 2020 before losing a lightweight title bout to Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in October 2023. He now seeks a second successful defense of his title in his second reign as featherweight champion, while Evloev earns his shot after building a 20–0 professional record. Yan (20-5) was an underdog when he upset Dvalishvili at UFC 323 to reclaim the bantamweight title and avenge a loss from their first meeting in 2023, following a run where Dvalishvili had been unbeaten for seven years and on a 14-fight winning streak.

Meanwhile, Makhachev reinforced his status as an elite MMA fighter by earning a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry to retain his UFC welterweight title on Saturday night. In a tense five-round battle at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, Makhachev utilized dominant grappling to overcome Irish challenger Garry, 28, setting a UFC record with 17 consecutive victories in the promotion.

“Ian is a great fighter, a good man, and I just respect him. He gave me a hard time, but I still prove myself every fight. Thank you for this match,” Makhachev said. Garry remained confident despite the defeat, telling TNT Sports, “I have nothing but respect for Islam Makhachev, he broke a record tonight. It might be one step backwards but I will return. I'm only 28, I can have another decade of dominating in this sport.”

It was a hard-fought win for the 34-year-old Makhachev, who noted he does not have much time left in the UFC. Speaking to UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson, Makhachev explained, “Now it's better for me to fight every three to four months. I understand I'm not 28 years old; I'm 34 right now. And I don't have much time.”

UFC 333 Main Card:
Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev – featherweight title
Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili – bantamweight title
Lone'er Kavanagh vs Ramazan Temirov – flyweight
Alexander Volkov vs Rizvan Kuniev – heavyweight
Arnold Allen vs Aaron Pico – featherweight

Preliminary Card:
Dominick Reyes vs Azamat Murzakanov – light heavyweight
Abus Magomedov vs Cam Rowston – middleweight
Nikita Krylov vs Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev – light heavyweight
Grant Dawson vs Nurullo Aliev – lightweight