Updated: August 16, 2026

UFC 333 is set for Abu Dhabi on October 24, with two championship fights headlining the card.

UFC 333 Fight Card: Volkanovski vs Evloev

UFC 333 is shaping up as one of the biggest UFC events of 2026, with Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev headlining from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 24, 2026. The featherweight championship will be on the line in the main event.

The co-main event is equally significant: UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan will face former champion Merab Dvalishvili in a trilogy fight. The two title bouts give UFC 333 an unusually strong championship lineup and have quickly made the event one of the promotion's most anticipated cards.

When Is UFC 333?

UFC 333 is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The event is part of the UFC's return to Abu Dhabi.

The exact start times for the early prelims, prelims and main card have not yet been fully established in the current card announcements. Those timings can also vary depending on broadcast arrangements.

Who Is Fighting at UFC 333?

The centerpiece of UFC 333 is a featherweight championship fight between Alexander Volkanovski and undefeated contender Movsar Evloev.

The co-main event features Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili 3 for the bantamweight title. Yan reclaimed the championship from Dvalishvili at UFC 323, setting up the third meeting between the two elite bantamweights.

Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev

Alexander Volkanovski will defend the UFC featherweight championship against the unbeaten Movsar Evloev. Volkanovski enters the matchup with a professional record of 28-4, while Evloev is unbeaten at 20-0.

Volkanovski is one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC featherweight history and is currently the division's champion. His official UFC profile lists 13 knockout victories, three submission wins and seven first-round finishes.

Evloev presents a very different challenge. He has built his undefeated UFC career around elite grappling, control and relentless pressure. His latest victory came against Lerone Murphy at UFC London in March 2026, where Evloev won by majority decision.

Can Volkanovski Stop Evloev's Undefeated Run?

The main event brings together experience and an unbeaten contender. Volkanovski has competed at the highest level for years, including multiple championship fights, while Evloev has yet to suffer a professional defeat.

One of the central tactical questions will be whether Volkanovski can keep the fight at his preferred striking range or whether Evloev can repeatedly force grappling exchanges. The matchup therefore pits Volkanovski's well-rounded striking and defensive wrestling against Evloev's persistent wrestling-based pressure.

Those are stylistic considerations rather than a prediction of the result. Neither fighter's outcome can be known before the bout takes place.

Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili 3

The co-main event is the latest chapter in one of the UFC's most competitive rivalries. Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili have already fought twice, with each fighter holding one victory in the rivalry.

Dvalishvili won their first meeting by unanimous decision in March 2023. The official UFC record shows a dominant 50-45, 50-45, 50-45 decision in Dvalishvili's favor.

Yan then defeated Dvalishvili at UFC 323, reclaiming the bantamweight championship and ending Dvalishvili's long winning run. UFC 333 will settle the trilogy if both fighters remain healthy and the bout goes ahead as scheduled.

UFC 333 Main Card

The currently announced main-card matchups include:

• Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev — UFC Featherweight Championship
• Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili — UFC Bantamweight Championship
• Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Ramazan Temirov
• Alexander Volkov vs. Rizvan Kuniev
• Arnold Allen vs. Aaron Pico

These matchups were among those identified in the latest UFC 333 card reporting.

UFC 333 Preliminary Card

The preliminary portion of the event is also taking shape, with fighters including Dominick Reyes, Nikita Krylov and Grant Dawson listed among the announced bouts. Additional preliminary matchups are expected to be finalized as the event approaches.

Why Is UFC 333 Trending?

Interest in UFC 333, Alexander Volkanovski, Movsar Evloev, Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili has increased sharply because the UFC has now placed two major title fights on the same Abu Dhabi card.

The main event is especially intriguing because Evloev is unbeaten and ranked immediately behind Volkanovski in the UFC featherweight rankings. UFC's current rankings list Volkanovski as champion and Evloev at No. 1, with Diego Lopes at No. 2.

What Is at Stake for Volkanovski?

Volkanovski is defending the featherweight championship during his second title reign. Another successful defense would strengthen his position among the division's all-time greats and extend his current championship run.

The matchup is also significant because Evloev represents one of the few remaining unbeaten contenders in the division. A Volkanovski victory would remove the leading undefeated challenger, while an Evloev win would create a new champion with a perfect professional record.

What Is at Stake for Petr Yan?

Yan enters the trilogy as the reigning bantamweight champion. After winning the title back at UFC 323, he now has to deal with the fighter who handed him one of the most significant defeats of his career in their first meeting.

Dvalishvili, meanwhile, is attempting to reclaim the belt and even the rivalry's overall championship picture. Their previous fights have already produced contrasting results, making a third encounter particularly significant.

What Is Movsar Evloev's Record?

Evloev is 20-0 professionally. His undefeated record is one of the defining features of the UFC 333 main event.

His most recent fight was the March 2026 win over Lerone Murphy. Evloev won that five-round featherweight contest by majority decision in London.

What Is Alexander Volkanovski's Record?

Volkanovski enters UFC 333 with a professional record of 28-4. The UFC lists him as the active featherweight champion and a top-two pound-for-pound fighter on its athlete page.

His career includes victories over many of the leading featherweights of his generation, making the undefeated Evloev another major test at the highest level.

What Is Petr Yan's Record?

Petr Yan currently has a professional record of 20-5, according to the latest UFC 333 reporting. He enters the bout as the reigning bantamweight champion after defeating Dvalishvili at UFC 323.

What Is Merab Dvalishvili's Record?

Merab Dvalishvili is listed at 21-5. Before losing the title to Yan, he had established one of the strongest winning streaks among UFC bantamweights, including victories over Yan, Sean O'Malley and Henry Cejudo.

Will UFC 333 Be in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi is the scheduled venue for UFC 333 on October 24. The event continues the UFC's long-running relationship with Abu Dhabi as one of its most important international destinations.

Is the UFC 333 Fight Card Final?

No. Several key matchups have been announced, but the entire card is not necessarily final. UFC events can change because of injuries, medical clearances, weight issues and other scheduling factors.

For that reason, the safest way to describe UFC 333 at this stage is as an announced card with two confirmed championship headliners and several additional bouts already reported.

Bottom Line

UFC 333 is scheduled for October 24, 2026, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Alexander Volkanovski will defend the featherweight title against undefeated challenger Movsar Evloev in the main event, while Petr Yan will defend the bantamweight championship against Merab Dvalishvili in their trilogy bout.

The announced card also includes Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Ramazan Temirov, Alexander Volkov vs. Rizvan Kuniev and Arnold Allen vs. Aaron Pico, with additional bouts on the preliminary card. Because the event is still more than two months away, the lineup can change before fight night.

With two championship fights and four elite names at the top of the card, UFC 333 is already shaping up as one of the promotion's standout events of 2026.