UFC 333 Confirmed
UFC 333 Main Events Revealed: Volkanovski Battles Evloev, Yan Faces Dvalishvili 3 in October
UFC 333 has its headliners. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his title against undefeated Russian contender Movsar Evloev in the main event on October 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, according to CBS Sports. In the co-main event, Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili will meet for the third time in a bantamweight title trilogy bout.
The event was announced during the UFC 330 broadcast, per MMA Fighting. Both bouts carry championship gold on the line, making UFC 333 one of the most stacked cards of the year.
Volkanovski Puts Featherweight Title on the Line Again
Alexander Volkanovski is widely seen as the greatest featherweight in UFC history. He holds wins over Jose Aldo and Max Holloway. This October fight will be his second featherweight title defense since reclaiming the belt, according to Yahoo Sports.
His opponent, Movsar Evloev, is undefeated as a professional fighter. The Russian has never lost in the UFC. He is a serious threat, but Volkanovski enters as the clear favorite. The fight takes place in Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena, a venue the UFC has used many times for big events.
Yan vs. Dvalishvili Trilogy to Settle a Long Rivalry
Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili have fought twice before. Now they meet a third time with UFC bantamweight gold on the line. MMA Fighting confirmed the trilogy bout will serve as the UFC 333 co-main event. Yan, a former UFC bantamweight champion, is looking to reclaim championship status.
Dvalishvili has been on a remarkable run. He has won 14 fights in a row and has defended his bantamweight title four times in a single year, per Yahoo Sports. He enters the trilogy as champion and will look to close the book on this rivalry for good.
Abu Dhabi Card Also Features Ankalaev on Fight Night
UFC 333 is not the only fight action that weekend. A UFC Fight Night event is also set to take place, headlined by Magomed Ankalaev vs. Bogdan Guskov, according to CBS Sports. The two-event setup gives fans a full weekend of fights in Abu Dhabi.
The Etihad Arena has become a go-to venue for the UFC's international cards. Abu Dhabi's support for major combat sports events has made it one of the sport's most important markets outside the United States.
What to Watch for on October 24
Volkanovski vs. Evloev is the headline bout, but the Yan-Dvalishvili trilogy may steal the show. Their two prior fights were close and contested. A third meeting, with a title on the line, is almost certain to deliver fireworks. The Score noted that both title fights were confirmed as part of the UFC 333 announcement.
UFC 333 is set for October 24. The card airs on Paramount+, per Yahoo Sports. Fans can expect the full card — including prelims and main card — to be revealed in the weeks ahead.
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