UFC 333 Lineup Includes Volkanovski vs. Evloev and Yan vs. Dvalishvili Trilogy Bout

UFC 333 is set to feature a pair of high-profile matchups, with Alexander Volkanovski facing undefeated Movsar Evloev and Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili meeting for a third time with a title at stake.

The lineup is being previewed with fan and creator predictions ahead of an Abu Dhabi card.

Movsar Evloev enters the Volkanovski fight with a perfect 20-0 record and holds the number one spot in the featherweight rankings. The 32-year-old from Russia, who trains out of American Top Team, is a grinding wrestler. He averages 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 3.91 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy. His most recent recorded fight was a majority decision win over Lerone Murphy on March 21, 2026, and his last three recorded outings all went the distance.

Petr Yan is the reigning bantamweight champion, and he arrives at the trilogy with the momentum of a win over his rival. The 33-year-old Russian, 20-5, took a unanimous decision over Dvalishvili at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025, over five rounds. Yan is the more prolific striker of the pair, landing 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy.

Merab Dvalishvili, 21-5, is ranked number one at bantamweight and number two pound-for-pound. The 35-year-old Georgian averages 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes, the highest rate among the fighters named here, and lands 4.33 significant strikes per minute. Before the UFC 323 loss he had won two straight title fights, finishing Sean O'Malley by submission at UFC 316 and beating Cory Sandhagen by decision at UFC 320.

Why it matters

• The Yan-Dvalishvili series is level at one win apiece. Dvalishvili took a unanimous decision on March 11, 2023, and Yan answered with the same result at UFC 323.
• Both previous meetings went the full five rounds, so the trilogy decides a rivalry that has produced ten rounds without a finish.
• Evloev's unbeaten record meets a step up in competition, and his takedown rate of 4.78 per 15 minutes sets up a wrestling-heavy test.
• The style contrast in the title fight is clear: Yan's 54 percent striking accuracy against Dvalishvili's 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes.