UFC 333 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 24, at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, featuring two championship bouts. The event will be headlined by featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defending his title against undefeated No. 1-ranked contender Movsar Evloev, with bantamweight champion Petr Yan facing former champion and No. 1-ranked contender Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event.

Championship Bouts Take Centre Stage

In the main event, Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski (28-4-0) will put his featherweight championship on the line. Known as “The Great”, Volkanovski enters the fight after reclaiming his title at UFC 314 and successfully retaining it at UFC 325. His opponent, Movsar Evloev (20-0-0), is an undefeated challenger who brings a perfect professional record into what is considered the biggest opportunity of his career.

The co-main event will see a rematch in the bantamweight division between Petr Yan (20-5-0) and Merab Dvalishvili (21-5-0). Dvalishvili secured a victory in their initial encounter, but Yan reversed the outcome with a unanimous-decision win at UFC 323 in December 2025 to reclaim the title. This upcoming bout marks their third meeting in the Octagon with the bantamweight championship at stake.

Diverse Paths to the Top

The four headline fighters at UFC 333 each bring unique backgrounds to their championship quests, according to GulfToday. Alexander Volkanovski, standing 5-foot-6, once weighed 214 lbs (97 kg) as a semi-professional rugby league player for the Warilla Gorillas before dedicating himself to MMA at 23. His main event opponent, Movsar Evloev, initially pursued a career in technology or law, having studied computer programming and law before committing to mixed martial arts.

For Petr Yan, his journey began in Siberia, secretly following his older brother to boxing training until he was allowed to participate himself. Merab Dvalishvili’s path involved balancing his fighting ambitions with a construction job in New York, with a spinning backfist knockout of Raufeon Stots marking a significant breakthrough in his career, which he described as a life-changing moment as he pursued fighting full-time. These stories highlight the varied routes fighters take to reach the pinnacle of the sport, as reported by GulfToday.

UFC 333 Card Nears Completion

UFC 333 is reportedly set to feature a total of 14 fights on its card. The final reported addition is a lightweight matchup between Noah Gugnon and Kody Steele, as confirmed by multiple sources to Heavy.com on October 2 and subsequently reported by Bloody Elbow. France’s Gugnon holds a professional record of 10-2, having won his Octagon debut by submitting Milos Janicic in 81 seconds. Steele, with a 1-1 record in the UFC, earned his contract in 2024.

Other recent additions to the card include Bolaji Oki moving to featherweight to face Daniel Santos, and Iasmin Lucindo booked against Nicolle Caliari. The event had previously lost a bout between Arnold Allen and Aaron Pico.

Frequently Asked Questions

• When and where is UFC 333 taking place?
  UFC 333 is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
• Who is headlining UFC 333?
  Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his title against undefeated Movsar Evloev.
• How many fights are expected on the UFC 333 card?
  The UFC 333 card is reportedly complete with 14 matchups.
• What is the co-main event at UFC 333?
  The co-main event features bantamweight champion Petr Yan facing Merab Dvalishvili.