Alexander Volkanovski delivered a statement victory at UFC 333, stopping Movsar Evloev in the second round to retain his featherweight championship. Petr Yan also defended his bantamweight title after defeating Merab Dvalishvili in their trilogy fight. The UFC 333 Results featured several dramatic finishes, including first-round victories for Aaron Pico and Lone’er Kavanagh. Saturday’s event took place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
UFC 333 Results: Volkanovski Stops Evloev to Retain Featherweight Title
Alexander Volkanovski (29-4) defeated previously undefeated Movsar Evloev (20-1) by second-round TKO in the UFC 333 main event. The Australian champion secured the stoppage at 4:54 after landing a series of unanswered punches. His victory ended Evloev’s 20-fight unbeaten professional run and strengthened his featherweight championship legacy.
The opening round featured a cautious approach from both competitors as they assessed each other’s strengths. Evloev attempted to establish his wrestling, while Volkanovski worked to maintain distance and create striking opportunities. Neither fighter managed to produce a decisive moment during the early exchanges.
Volkanovski began finding greater success with his boxing during the second round. The 38-year-old connected with accurate combinations and prevented Evloev from establishing sustained grappling control. His movement and defensive awareness helped him create enough space to attack.
The decisive sequence came during the final seconds of the round. Volkanovski landed a powerful combination that drove Evloev toward the fence before dropping him to the canvas. The champion followed with unanswered punches until the referee stopped the contest with six seconds remaining.
Official Result: Alexander Volkanovski defeated Movsar Evloev via TKO (punches), Round 2, 4:54.
Volkanovski Ends Evloev’s Undefeated Run
Evloev entered UFC 333 with 20 consecutive professional victories and a perfect 10-0 UFC record. His wrestling and positional control had helped him defeat several leading featherweight contenders. However, Volkanovski became the first fighter to defeat him in professional MMA.
The victory also gave Volkanovski another successful featherweight championship defense across his two title reigns. He previously regained the championship against Diego Lopes in April 2025. His latest performance provided another reminder of his ability to compete against elite opponents at 38.
Before the fight, the UFC 333 predictions examined how Volkanovski’s striking and defensive wrestling could challenge Evloev. The champion ultimately used those strengths to secure a stoppage rather than the anticipated decision. His next challenger remains unconfirmed.
Petr Yan Defeats Merab Dvalishvili to Win UFC 333 Trilogy
Petr Yan (21-5) successfully defended his bantamweight championship against Merab Dvalishvili (21-6) in the UFC 333 co-main event. The Russian earned a unanimous decision after five competitive rounds in Abu Dhabi. All three judges scored the championship fight 48-47 in Yan’s favor.
Dvalishvili began aggressively and pressured Yan with repeated takedown attempts during the opening two rounds. His relentless pace limited the champion’s offensive opportunities and forced several defensive exchanges. However, Yan remained composed while looking for chances to establish his striking.
The momentum shifted during the third round as Yan began landing cleaner punches and body shots. He found more success in the fourth round and forced Dvalishvili to absorb increasingly effective combinations. The Georgian continued pressing forward but struggled to maintain his earlier advantage.
Yan controlled several important exchanges during the final round and landed the more effective strikes. His improved performance across the later rounds persuaded all three judges to award him the contest. The victory gave him a second consecutive win over Dvalishvili and settled their trilogy in his favor.
Official Result: Petr Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47).
Yan Strengthens His Bantamweight Championship Reign
The rivalry began in March 2023 when Dvalishvili defeated Yan through sustained wrestling pressure. Yan reversed that result at UFC 323 in December 2025 to reclaim the bantamweight championship. Their third meeting provided another opportunity to determine which fighter could make the better tactical adjustments.
Yan’s latest victory demonstrated his ability to maintain defensive discipline against an opponent known for relentless pressure. His accurate striking became increasingly effective as the championship contest progressed. Dvalishvili’s determination kept the fight competitive, but the judges favored Yan’s work.
Lone’er Kavanagh Knocks Out Ramazan Temirov in First Round
Lone’er Kavanagh produced one of the evening’s most impressive finishes against Ramazan Temirov in their flyweight contest. The British fighter secured a first-round TKO at 4:28 after a competitive opening few minutes. His victory strengthened his position among the division’s emerging contenders.
Both competitors exchanged strikes while attempting to establish their preferred distance during the opening round. Temirov presented a dangerous attacking threat, but Kavanagh remained composed during the exchanges. The British contender eventually found an opening as the round approached its final minute.
Kavanagh landed a powerful uppercut that disrupted Temirov’s balance before following with additional punches. His opponent could not recover, prompting the referee to stop the contest. The finish represented another important achievement for Kavanagh in the UFC flyweight division.
Official Result: Lone’er Kavanagh defeated Ramazan Temirov via TKO (punches), Round 1, 4:28.
Alexander Volkov Defeats Rizvan Kuniev by Unanimous Decision
Alexander Volkov earned another important heavyweight victory by defeating Rizvan Kuniev through a unanimous decision. The judges scored the contest 29-28, 30-27, and 30-27 for the experienced Russian contender. The victory extended Volkov’s winning streak and strengthened his position in the heavyweight division.
Volkov relied on his striking experience and distance management throughout the three-round contest. Kuniev attempted to challenge him through pressure and physical exchanges, but Volkov maintained enough control to secure the decision. His performance demonstrated the value of technical discipline against a powerful opponent.
The win gives Volkov additional momentum as the heavyweight championship picture continues developing. He has now won three consecutive fights and remains among the division’s established contenders. However, the UFC has not announced his next opponent.
Official Result: Alexander Volkov defeated Rizvan Kuniev via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).
Aaron Pico Stops Losene Keita in UFC 333 Main Card Opener
Aaron Pico delivered an impressive first-round stoppage against Losene Keita to open the UFC 333 main card. The American featherweight secured a TKO just 74 seconds into their scheduled three-round contest. His performance gave him another important victory during his developing UFC career.
Pico initially threatened a takedown, forcing Keita to consider the possibility of another wrestling exchange. When the fighters returned to striking range, Pico connected with a powerful right hand. The punch dropped Keita and allowed Pico to pursue the finish.
Pico quickly followed his opponent to the canvas and landed additional punches until the referee intervened. His ability to combine a wrestling threat with accurate striking proved decisive. The victory marked his first UFC stoppage and extended his recent winning momentum.
Official Result: Aaron Pico defeated Losene Keita via TKO (punches), Round 1, 1:14.
Complete UFC 333 Results: Main Card
UFC 333 featured five main-card matchups, including two championship fights. Volkanovski and Yan successfully defended their titles, while Kavanagh and Pico secured early stoppage victories. Volkov completed the main-card winners with a unanimous decision in his heavyweight contest.
| Fight | Winner | Method |
| Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev | Alexander Volkanovski | TKO, Round 2 (4:54) |
| Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili | Petr Yan | Unanimous decision (48-47 x3) |
| Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Ramazan Temirov | Lone’er Kavanagh | TKO, Round 1 (4:28) |
| Alexander Volkov vs. Rizvan Kuniev | Alexander Volkov | Unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2) |
| Aaron Pico vs. Losene Keita | Aaron Pico | TKO, Round 1 (1:14) |
UFC 333 Preliminary Card Results
The preliminary card produced several memorable performances, including a first-round knockout from Dominick Reyes. The former light heavyweight title challenger stopped Azamat Murzakanov at 2:40 to secure an important victory. His performance stood out among the evening’s preliminary contests.
Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev also impressed with a first-round stoppage against Nikita Krylov. The unbeaten contender finished his opponent at 2:38 to strengthen his standing in the light heavyweight division. Meanwhile, Abus Magomedov submitted Cam Rowston with a guillotine choke in the opening round.
Grant Dawson completed the regular preliminary card with a unanimous decision victory over Nurullo Aliev. The lightweight secured 29-27 scorecards from all three judges. His performance added another victory to his UFC record.
| Fight | Winner | Method |
| Azamat Murzakanov vs. Dominick Reyes | Dominick Reyes | KO, Round 1 (2:40) |
| Nikita Krylov vs. Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev | Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev | TKO, Round 1 (2:38) |
| Abus Magomedov vs. Cam Rowston | Abus Magomedov | Submission (guillotine), Round 1 (1:44) |
| Grant Dawson vs. Nurullo Aliev | Grant Dawson | Unanimous decision (29-27 x3) |
UFC 333 Early Preliminary Results
The early preliminary card featured five contests across several weight classes. Kody Steele produced the only stoppage in this portion of the event, knocking out Noah Gugnon in the first round. The remaining fights ended through decisions after competitive exchanges.
Colby Thicknesse earned a split decision against Asaf Chopurov, while Abubakar Vagaev defeated Jacob Malkoun unanimously. Daniel Santos also secured a unanimous decision over Bolaji Oki. Iasmin Lucindo completed the early preliminary winners with a decision against Nicolle Caliari.
Caliari entered the event following a significant weight miss during Friday’s official weigh-ins. The Brazilian exceeded the non-title strawweight allowance by 4.5 pounds, forcing adjustments to her contest. The earlier UFC 333 weigh-in results documented the issue before the fighters entered the Octagon.
| Fight | Winner | Method |
| Colby Thicknesse vs. Asaf Chopurov | Colby Thicknesse | Split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29) |
| Abubakar Vagaev vs. Jacob Malkoun | Abubakar Vagaev | Unanimous decision (29-28 x3) |
| Bolaji Oki vs. Daniel Santos | Daniel Santos | Unanimous decision (29-28 x3) |
| Kody Steele vs. Noah Gugnon | Kody Steele | KO, Round 1 (3:54) |
| Iasmin Lucindo vs. Nicolle Caliari | Iasmin Lucindo | Unanimous decision (30-27 x3) |
What UFC 333 Results Mean for the Featherweight and Bantamweight Divisions
Volkanovski’s victory leaves the featherweight division searching for another challenger to his championship. Evloev entered the event undefeated, but his second-round defeat interrupted his first UFC title opportunity. The Australian has now defeated another highly ranked contender while extending his championship legacy.
Yan’s victory also brings greater clarity to the bantamweight title picture. His second consecutive win against Dvalishvili gives him the advantage in their three-fight rivalry. Other leading contenders can now pursue a championship opportunity without waiting for another meeting between the former rivals.
The victories from Kavanagh, Pico, and Reyes could also influence future matchmaking decisions. Each fighter defeated a significant opponent and strengthened his argument for a bigger matchup. However, the UFC has not confirmed their next assignments.
Final Thoughts
UFC 333 delivered two important championship results as Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan successfully retained their titles. Volkanovski produced the night’s biggest achievement by becoming the first fighter to defeat Movsar Evloev. His second-round stoppage reinforced his standing among the greatest featherweight champions in UFC history.
Yan also demonstrated his championship experience with another victory against Merab Dvalishvili. Despite facing relentless pressure during the opening rounds, the Russian made the necessary adjustments to secure a decision. His performance gave him the final victory in their bantamweight trilogy.
Elsewhere, Lone’er Kavanagh and Aaron Pico recorded impressive first-round finishes, while Dominick Reyes delivered an important knockout on the preliminary card. The event produced several performances that could shape upcoming UFC matchups. Abu Dhabi witnessed another significant night for two reigning champions and several rising contenders.
FAQs About UFC 333 Results
1. Who won the UFC 333 main event?
Alexander Volkanovski defeated Movsar Evloev by second-round TKO at UFC 333 on October 24, 2026. The referee stopped the fight at 4:54, allowing Volkanovski to retain his featherweight championship.
2. Who won Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili 3?
Petr Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 48-47 in Yan’s favor, allowing him to retain his UFC bantamweight title.
3. Did Movsar Evloev lose his undefeated record at UFC 333?
Yes. Alexander Volkanovski handed Movsar Evloev his first professional MMA defeat with a second-round TKO. Evloev entered the contest with a 20-0 record.
4. Who won Aaron Pico vs. Losene Keita at UFC 333?
Aaron Pico defeated Losene Keita by first-round TKO. The referee stopped the featherweight contest at 1:14 after Pico landed a powerful right hand and follow-up strikes.
5. How many fights took place at UFC 333?
UFC 333 featured 14 fights at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The event included five main-card contests, four regular preliminary fights, and five early preliminary matchups.
