UFC 333 results set paths for Volkanovski and Yan
Volkanovski stopped Evloev in two rounds, while Yan closed his trilogy with Dvalishvili via unanimous decision.
By Lucas Mehta ·
Alexander Volkanovski retained his UFC featherweight title with a two-round stoppage of Movsar Evloev on Saturday night. The victory marks the end of Evloev's unbeaten record and leaves the champion looking to cross back over to the lightweight division.
Volkanovski has two losses at 155 pounds, a weight class where he previously held the title. He told ESPN in September that he did not love the idea of jumping the line to fight Justin Gaethje, especially with Arman Tsarukyan waiting in line for a title shot. The most likely next step for Volkanovski is a bout with Charles Oliveira. If Oliveira defends his BMF title against Diego Lopes at UFC 335 in December, the two legends would face off in 2027. A win would legitimize the victor as a serious lightweight contender.
Petr Yan kept his men's bantamweight belt by beating Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. The fight concluded a trilogy between the two former champions. Dvalishvili suffered his second consecutive loss after falling to Yan in 2024 and 2025.
Yan faces a choice between two top contenders for his next defense. Sean O'Malley holds a controversial victory over Yan from 2022. O'Malley has won two fights since his loss to Dvalishvili, including a knockout of Aiemann Zahabi. Song Yadong offers another option, having defeated Yan's previous opponent and knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov with a single shot in the pocket.
Dvalishvili is expected to return to the cage quickly after his defeat. A rematch against Umar Nurmagomedov appears the most logical next step. The two fighters shared a heated bout at UFC 311 in January 2025, where Nurmagomedov broke his hand early in the fight. Both men are coming off losses, a factor the UFC often uses to build cards. Nurmagomedov is likely to fight before Ramadan begins in February.
On the featherweight side, Evloev finds himself in a difficult position. He suggested he might try again for the title, a statement that may be influenced by English being his second language. Pat Sabatini, who is 9-2 in the UFC, is the most obvious next opponent for Evloev. Steve Garcia is another candidate, coming off a loss to Diego Lopes in June.
Aaron Pico, who won a featherweight bout at UFC 333, could face Jean Silva next. Pico previously defeated Patricio Pitbull in April. A fight with Silva would be a major jump up the rankings, but it offers one of the most explosive matchups in the division. Youssef Zalal is a wild card option for Pico. Zalal, 30, was cut from the UFC in 2021 after a 0-3 start but has won five fights since returning.
The UFC will finalize these matchups in the coming months. Volkanovski and Yan remain the top priorities for title unification and high-profile rematches. The December card in December will determine if the Oliveira and Lopes bout happens, setting the stage for a potential 2027 heavyweight clash.
Source: ESPN
