UFC 333
| UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | October 24, 2026 | |||
| Venue | Etihad Arena | |||
| City | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that is scheduled to take place on October 24, 2026, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[1][2][3][4][5]
Background
[edit]The event will mark the promotion's 24th visit to Abu Dhabi and its first since UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov in July 2026. It will also be the eleventh numbered event held in the city, following UFC 321 in October 2025.[1]
A UFC Featherweight Championship bout between reigning two-time champion Alexander Volkanovski and undefeated contender Movsar Evloev is scheduled to headline the event.[6]
A UFC Bantamweight Championship trilogy bout between reigning two-time champion Petr Yan and former champion Merab Dvalishvili will take place as the co-main event.[7] The pair first met in March 2023 at UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili, where Dvalishvili defeated Yan via unanimous decision.[8] Their second meeting took place in December 2025 at UFC 323, where Yan defeated Dvalishvili to reclaim the bantamweight title, ending the latter's 14-fight winning streak at the time.[9]
A featherweight bout between Arnold Allen and Aaron Pico was scheduled for the event.[10] However, Allen withdrew due to an injury and was replaced by Losene Keita.[11]
Fight card
[edit]| Main card (Paramount+) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Featherweight | Alexander Volkanovski (c) | vs. | Movsar Evloev | [a] | |||
| Bantamweight | Petr Yan (c) | vs. | Merab Dvalishvili | [b] | |||
| Flyweight | Lone'er Kavanagh | vs. | Ramazan Temirov | ||||
| Heavyweight | Alexander Volkov | vs. | Rizvan Kuniev | ||||
| Preliminary card (Paramount+) | |||||||
| Light Heavyweight | Azamat Murzakanov | vs. | Dominick Reyes | ||||
| Light Heavyweight | Nikita Krylov | vs. | Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev | ||||
| Middleweight | Abusupiyan Magomedov | vs. | Cameron Rowston | ||||
| Lightweight | Grant Dawson | vs. | Nurullo Aliev | ||||
- ↑ For the UFC Featherweight Championship.
- ↑ For the UFC Bantamweight Championship.
Announced bouts
[edit]- Featherweight bout: Aaron Pico vs. Losene Keita[11]
- Middleweight bout: Jacob Malkoun vs. Abubakar Vagaev[13]
- Bantamweight bout: Colby Thicknesse vs. Asaf Chopurov[14]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Staff (2026-07-25). "UFC returning to Abu Dhabi for UFC 333 in October". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Farah Hannoun (2026-07-25). "UFC announces return to Abu Dhabi for UFC 333 on Oct. 24". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Andy Lewis (2026-07-25). "UFC 333 heading to Abu Dhabi as MMA giants confirm October return to Etihad Arena". thenationalnews.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Sammi Barnard (2026-07-25). "Just announced: UFC 333 is coming to Abu Dhabi this October". whatson.ae. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Jake Blend (2026-07-25). "UFC 333 lands in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 24 as Etihad Arena gets another numbered event". middleeasy.com. Retrieved 2026-07-26.
- ↑ Anastasiia Dudkina (2026-07-25). "Volkanovski vs Evloev title fight set for October 24 at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi". telecomasia.net. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ Jordan Ellis (2026-08-09). "Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan are reportedly set to defend their UFC belts at UFC 333". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
- ↑ Jay Anderson (2023-03-11). "UFC Las Vegas: Merab Dvalishvili dominates ex-champ Petr Yan in standout performance". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
- ↑ Jay Anderson (2025-12-07). "UFC 323: Petr Yan Dethrones Merab Dvalishvili in Rematch". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
- ↑ Marcel Dorff (2026-08-15). "Two massive title fights headline UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi". heavy.com. Retrieved 2026-09-18.
- 1 2 Nolan King (2026-09-18). "Losene Keita steps into UFC 333 banger vs. Aaron Pico". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2026-09-18.
- ↑ "UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2026-08-16.
- ↑ Marcel Dorff (2026-09-23). "UFC adds middleweight bout to UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi". heavy.com. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ Dorff, Marcel (2026-09-24). "Colby Thicknesse Draws Undefeated Newcomer at UFC 333". HEAVY. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
