UFC 333 Preview: High-Stakes Title Fights and Blockbuster Trilogy Head to Abu Dhabi

UFC 333 is just over a month away, and anticipation is rapidly growing as the world's leading MMA promotion prepares for a massive return to Abu Dhabi. Featuring two championship belts and a high-stakes trilogy bout, the Etihad Arena card promises an unforgettable night of fights on October 24.

Alexander Volkanovski aims to further cement his legacy as the greatest featherweight in UFC history when he defends his title against the undefeated No 1-ranked contender Movsar Evloev. Evloev extended his record to 20 consecutive victories following a controversial majority decision over Lerone Murphy in March, a bout marred by a point deduction for illegal groin strikes. While Evloev initially attempted to stand and trade with Murphy, he ultimately relied on his elite wrestling to control the match. Volkanovski, who watched closely as the fight served as a title eliminator, warned the Russian challenger against attempting a striking battle when they meet in Abu Dhabi.

In the co-main event, Petr Yan will settle his trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili. Yan delivered one of the standout performances of 2025 by outclassing the Georgian over five rounds to recapture the bantamweight belt. Dvalishvili, determined to reclaim his throne, admitted that accepting the rematch just two months after defending against Cory Sandhagen led to severe burnout. Fully recuperated and backed by a proper training camp, 'The Machine' enters this trilogy clash aiming to settle the score once and for all.

The undercard features flyweight prospect Lone’er Kavanagh looking to solidify his top-six ranking against Ramazan Temirov. Kavanagh wants to bounce back into the title conversation following a submission loss to Brandon Royval, while Temirov brings devastating knockout power, having famously stopped Steve Erceg in Abu Dhabi last July. Meanwhile, heavyweight Alexander Volkov seeks to rebuild his title aspirations, while light heavyweight Azamat Murzakanov returns from his first career defeat to face veteran standout Dominick Reyes.

Additionally, the UFC announced plans to return to Qatar on November 21 at ABHA Arena, marking the promotion's second event in Doha following a successful debut in 2025.