At UFC 333, Alexander Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title against Movsar Evloev in the main event in Abu Dhabi. The card will also feature another highly anticipated title clash, as Petr Yan takes on Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight championship in their trilogy fight.
Volkanovski will be aiming for the second defense of his second featherweight reign after reclaiming the vacant title with a win over Diego Lopes at UFC 314 last April. Meanwhile, Evloev has finally earned his long-awaited shot at UFC gold after edging out Lerone Murphy in a title eliminator at UFC London in March.
The Russian has built an impressive resume to earn his opportunity. Evloev has beaten the likes of Lopes, Arnold Allen, and Aljamain Sterling while putting together a 10-fight winning streak in the UFC. Even more impressively, he remains undefeated with a perfect 20-0 record.
Despite Evloev’s credentials, Yan believes Volkanovski could have the edge when the two meet on October 24.
Petr Yan Says Alexander Volkanovski’s Defensive Wrestling Could Decide UFC 333
In a recent interview with UFC Eurasia, Yan backed the Australian champion to retain his title, provided he enters the fight in good shape. He said, “If Volkanovski is in good shape, good condition, then it might be a tough one for Movsar.”
The Russian also pointed to Volkanovski’s striking and defensive wrestling as key advantages. The Australian showcased those skills during his first meeting with Islam Makhachev at UFC 284, when he moved up to lightweight to challenge for the title and proved difficult to control on the ground.
Yan explained, “Because in this scenario, to beat Volkanovski, Movsar will need to either submit him or knock him out. Just those two ways (to win). Volkanovski is good on the feet; he also has good defensive wrestling. What he actually proved in his first fight with Islam. He showed that it’s not easy to control him on the ground.”
Yan believes the matchup could be competitive, but he still gives Volkanovski a slight advantage heading into the title defense.
“It’s an interesting matchup. 55/45 in favor of Volkanovski. Movsar is younger and more motivated, but he still has to beat today’s version of Volkanovski,” Yan added.
Petr Yan gives Alexander Volkanovski the edge over Movsar Evloev in their UFC 333 main event, saying Volkanovski’s experience and defensive wrestling could make it a difficult matchup.
“It’s an interesting matchup. 55/45 in favor of Volkanovski. Movsar is younger and more motivated, but he still has to beat today’s version of Volkanovski,” Yan said.
“Movsar will need to either submit him or knock him out. Volkanovski is good on the feet and has good defensive wrestling,” he added.
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— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 8, 2026
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Although Yan shares Russian roots with Evloev, he appears to have a particularly close relationship with Volkanovski. The reigning bantamweight champion has called the Australian a “friend” after training alongside him at Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand. Yan has also recently ruled out moving up to challenge for a second UFC title while Volkanovski remains the featherweight champion.
Volkanovski has won eight UFC featherweight title fights, tying the division record. The Australian also boasts a 28-4 professional MMA record, with notable victories over Max Holloway (three times), Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes, and Lopes (twice).
Petr Yan would rather move up to 145 than fight Joshua Van moving up to 135, but refuses to fight friend Alexander Volkanovski
“You know, if someone’s gonna move up and challenge me, it’s maybe a question for them… But personally, moving up sounds interesting too… Yeah, just 145 champ is my friend Alex Volkanovski, so I don’t wanna beat him up.”
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— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 7, 2026
Evloev now has the chance to add another major name to his resume and capture his first UFC title. However, taking the belt from a champion with Volkanovski’s experience will be a serious challenge, especially if Yan’s assessment proves accurate. The undefeated contender will need to deliver the performance of his life if he wants to leave Abu Dhabi as the new 145-pound champion.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
