The Ultimate Fighting Championship delivered a spectacular championship double-header on October 24, 2026, as UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev took center stage at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Following up on the anticipation built in our UFC 333 preview, the event provided dramatic finishes, historic milestones, and the resolution of a bitter rivalry at the top of the bantamweight division.

Alexander Volkanovski Retains Featherweight Crown

In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski firmly cemented his legacy as the greatest 145-pound fighter in promotional history by successfully defending his UFC Featherweight Championship against the previously undefeated Movsar Evloev. Volkanovski handed Evloev his first professional loss via a devastating technical knockout at the 4:54 mark of the second round.

The champion utilised his signature pressure and precise striking to neutralise Evloev’s formidable grappling attacks. With just six seconds remaining in the second frame, Volkanovski unleashed a vicious barrage of punches and ground-and-pound that forced the referee to halt the contest. In his post-fight interview, a jubilant Volkanovski revealed that he had promised his wife a “quick one” so she would not be stressing on the sidelines, noting that the fight fell near their wedding anniversary. The victory officially pushed Volkanovski past Jose Aldo’s record for the most featherweight title fight wins in UFC history.

Petr Yan Closes the Trilogy Against Merab Dvalishvili

The co-main event saw UFC Bantamweight Champion Petr Yan successfully defend his title and close out his trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili. In a gruelling, high-paced, 25-minute affair, Yan earned a unanimous decision victory, with all three judges scoring the bout 48-47 in favour of the champion.

Yan, who reclaimed the belt at UFC 323, showcased exceptional takedown defence and superior boxing combinations to edge out the relentless Georgian. The victory secured back-to-back wins for Yan over his fierce rival, putting a definitive end to one of the most intense storylines in the bantamweight division.

Lone’er Kavanagh and Undercard Standouts

Before the championship bouts, the Etihad Arena crowd was treated to a series of violent and decisive finishes. English flyweight prospect Lone’er Kavanagh made a massive statement by delivering a brutal first-round knockout over highly touted knockout artist Ramazan Temirov. The stoppage came at 4:28 of the opening round, cementing Kavanagh’s status as a rapidly rising contender in the 125-pound weight class.

The main card and preliminary action also featured rapid-fire finishes from established veterans. Aaron Pico made quick work of Losene Keita, securing a TKO victory in just 74 seconds. Meanwhile, former light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes found the mark early, stopping Azamat Murzakanov via TKO at 2:40 of the first round. Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev mirrored that success in his own light heavyweight bout, finishing Nikita Krylov via TKO at the 2:38 mark of round one.

Official UFC 333 Results

Below are the verified results from the UFC 333 fight card in Abu Dhabi:

• Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski def. Movsar Evloev via TKO (Punches) in Round 2 (4:54)
• Bantamweight Championship: Petr Yan def. Merab Dvalishvili via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
• Heavyweight Bout: Alexander Volkov def. Rizvan Kuniev via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
• Flyweight Bout: Lone’er Kavanagh def. Ramazan Temirov via TKO (Punches) in Round 1 (4:28)
• Featherweight Bout: Aaron Pico def. Losene Keita via TKO in Round 1 (1:14)
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Dominick Reyes def. Azamat Murzakanov via TKO in Round 1 (2:40)
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Nikita Krylov via TKO in Round 1 (2:38)
• Middleweight Bout: Abus Magomedov def. Cameron Rowston via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in Round 1 (1:44)
• Lightweight Bout: Grant Dawson def. Nurullo Aliev via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)

Post-Fight Highlights and Milestones

UFC 333 will be remembered as a night of historic achievements and statement performances. Alexander Volkanovski’s record-breaking title defense not only solidified his featherweight supremacy but also showcased his enduring power and fight IQ against a younger, undefeated challenger. Petr Yan’s tactical masterclass against Dvalishvili proved his championship mettle and ability to make crucial adjustments in a high-stakes trilogy bout.

While official post-fight bonus winners were not immediately detailed by the promotion, the highlight-reel finishes from Volkanovski, Kavanagh, Pico, and Reyes dominated the post-fight conversation. With a mix of legendary champions extending their reigns and new contenders like Kavanagh violently announcing their arrival, UFC 333 delivered a memorable chapter in the promotion’s storied history in Abu Dhabi.