Alexander Volkanovski retained his featherweight championship by defeating Movsar Evloev with a technical knockout in round two at UFC 333 inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The co-main event featured Petr Yan winning the bantamweight title by unanimous decision over Merab Dvalishvili.
Updated October 25, 2026
Alexander Volkanovski faced an undefeated challenger at UFC 333 on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Stepping into the Octagon inside Etihad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the featherweight champion defended his belt against Movsar Evloev on a night featuring two major title fights.
VOLK HAS DONE IT HE REMAINS THE FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMP[ #UFC333 | LIVE on @paramountplus ] pic.twitter.com/21n4C8tSTL
— https://x.com/UFConParamount/status/2114101812676411873
Volkanovski entered the bout holding an 8-3 record in UFC title fights and riding a two-fight winning streak following consecutive victories over Diego Lopes that helped him reclaim the 145-pound throne. Evloev arrived as the challenger with an unblemished 20-0 professional record, having earned 10 consecutive victories since making his UFC debut in 2019 according to event results.
Opposite him stands the undefeated Russian Evloev, who has quietly worked his way through the Featherweight weight class by securing 10 straight UFC triumphs. Evloev may not have produced the highlight-reel finishes of some of his fellow contenders, but his unbeaten record and suffocating style have made him one of the division’s biggest threats. Now, he finally gets the opportunity to prove he belongs among the elite.
Slow motion look at the liver shot by Petr Yan [ #UFC333 | LIVE on @paramountplus ] pic.twitter.com/2WDTgtqoFa
— https://x.com/UFConParamount/status/2114089057668026498
Will Evloev’s unblemished streak culminate in the defining victory of his professional journey, or is Volkanovski prepared to author yet another legendary chapter in his storied career?
Although Volkanovski has already solidified his status as one of the preeminent Featherweights in the history of the UFC, he still feels he has something left to prove. Following back-to-back knockout defeats that might have spelled the end for most competitors, the Australian fighter staged a remarkable comeback to recapture the 145-pound championship and once again finds himself defending his supremacy at the summit.
Volkanovski Secures Round Two Technical Knockout
The opening round established a tactical battle. Making his entrance to the tune of a lively Russian ballad, the challenger Movsar was the first to approach the cage, maintaining a calm, cool, and collected demeanor as he walked toward the Octagon. Then, it was Volkanovski’s turn, walking out to his signature Men at Work anthem. As Movsar attempted to find his distance through shadow boxing and gauging the right separation, Volk initiated the offense with a couple of low kicks inside.
Movsar landed another takedown against the fence and cracked Volk with a punishing left hook on the separation, marking his most effective strike of the bout up to that point. The second round commenced with a touch of gloves between the two competitors, and Volk quickly returned to attacking the lower legs.
As the time rapidly dwindled away, he unleashed a heavy barrage of strikes, prompting Goddard to step in and pull Volk away from Movsar just moments before the final horn sounded. Final result: Volkanovski defeats Evloev via technical knockout in round two.
The victory handed Evloev his first career loss.
Yan Captures Bantamweight Title in Trilogy Bout
Immediately preceding the main event, the bantamweight division witnessed the third meeting between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. Yan captured a unanimous decision victory with judges scoring the bout 48-47 across all three cards to secure his second reign as undisputed bantamweight champion. Dvalishvili held the 135-pound title for over a year and successfully defended it three times.
The trilogy bout followed Yan’s victory over Dvalishvili at UFC 323 in December 2025, which snapped Dvalishvili’s 14-fight winning streak.
#UFC333 Official Result: Alexander Volkanovski (@AlexVolkanovski) defeats Movsar Evloev via TKO at 4:54 of Round 2.Complete Main Card Results ➡️ https://t.co/sBG9QXlpSXComplete Scorecards ➡️ https://t.co/nYKFdAE8Qi pic.twitter.com/1Y5VN6U6Q5
— https://x.com/UFCNews/status/2114102173986619393
Full Results Across the Abu Dhabi Fight Card
The 14-bout card featured several quick finishes and decision victories across preliminary and main card matchups. Lone’er Kavanagh secured a first-round knockout against Ramazan Temirov.
| Main Card Bout | Winner | Method | Round / Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev | Alexander Volkanovski | KO / TKO | Round 2 |
| Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili | Petr Yan | Unanimous Decision | 48-47, 48-47, 48-47 |
| Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Ramazan Temirov | Lone’er Kavanagh | KO / TKO | Round 1 |
| Alexander Volkov vs. Rizvan Kuniev | Alexander Volkov | Unanimous Decision | 29-28, 30-27, 30-27 |
| Aaron Pico vs. Losene Keita | Aaron Pico | KO / TKO | Round 1 |
Unresolved Questions Following the Abu Dhabi Championship Bouts
With Volkanovski successfully turning back the division’s undefeated contender, questions remain regarding who the promotion will match against the champion next. Similarly, Yan’s return to the top of the 135-pound weight class leaves the bantamweight division’s immediate challenger pool open following the conclusion of his trilogy with Dvalishvili.
Given the immense amount of action that took place on Saturday night, let us examine the complete fight card and current betting lines before diving into our expert staff predictions and main card picks to help guide your wagers at the sportsbook.
Dominick Reyes def. Azamat Murzakanov via first-round KO (2:40), Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Nurullo Aliev via unanimous decision (29-27 x3), Colby Thicknesse def. Colby Thicknesse def. Asaf Chopurov via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29).
Iasmin Lucindo def. Iasmin Lucindo def. Nicolle Caliari via unanimous decision (30-27 x3). Anticipating such a high-profile headliner, the panel at CBS Sports put together their official main card predictions and selections courtesy of Brian Campbell, Brent Brookhouse, Shakiel Mahjouri, Michael Mormile, and Brandon Wise. Volkanovski (c) vs. Evloev.
Iasmin Lucindo Unanimous Decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27.
Update (October 25, 2026)
According to BBC, Volkanovski approached the end of his UFC career as he defended his title, with Movsar Evloev facing his first title fight seven years after his debut. The first round was closer than expected, with Evloev landing more significant strikes and takedowns despite Volkanovski’s early aggression. Evloev praised Volkanovski, calling him “like good wine—older, stronger, better,” and acknowledged his own shortcomings, vowing to return after recovering from injuries.
The second round saw Volkanovski overpower Evloev with an overhand right, securing top position before finishing the fight. Evloev expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “It’s better to lose to a guy like him than to someone who isn’t as good as him.” The technical knockout marked Evloev’s first career loss and extended Volkanovski’s reign as champion.
Update (October 25, 2026)
According to Bbc, a gracious Movsar Evloev reflected on his first career defeat after the bout, calling Volkanovski a true legend and stating, "He's like good wine – older, stronger, better." Evloev added that the loss served as a great lesson, noting he did not yet prove he is the best and might try again in the future. "It's better to lose to a guy like him than to someone who isn't as good as him," Evloev said, before planning to return home to rest and recover from his injuries.