UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev set in Abu Dhabi as Caliari misses weight

UFC 333 puts two belts on the line at Etihad Arena. Volkanovski, 38, makes the second defense of his second featherweight reign after beating Diego Lopes twice, the comeback that followed his 2024 knockout loss to Ilia Topuria and a 14-month layoff. Evloev, a former M-1 Global bantamweight champion, is 10-0 in the UFC with every win on the scorecards, and Volkanovski has dared him to wrestle: "You can try and take me down all day," he said, via The Associated Press. Betway lists the fight as a pick'em.

The co-main settles a rivalry at one win apiece. Dvalishvili dominated their 2023 meeting; Yan took the belt back by unanimous decision at UFC 323 in December 2025, and neither has fought since. Dvalishvili had fought four times in 2025 and later admitted taking the rematch on a short turnaround was a mistake. Yan is the betting favorite.

Keita, a former two-division OKTAGON champion, steps in about a month after his first-round knockout of Muhammad Naimov at UFC Paris. No. 4 heavyweight Alexander Volkov, who showed up at the press conference to pitch Dana White on a title shot, faces Rizvan Kuniev; MMA Mania figures a convincing win could set him up for the winner of Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit at UFC 334. Caliari forfeits 30 percent of her purse to Lucindo, according to Knockout Daily.

Main-event walkout estimates vary with how many fights go the distance: Athlon has it around Sat, Oct 24, 4 p.m. ET (20:00 UTC), The Sporting News closer to Sat, Oct 24, 5:15 p.m. ET (21:15 UTC).

 

[Scheels]

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