Alexander Volkanovski defends the UFC featherweight title against Movsar Evloev in the main event
Petr Yan defends the UFC bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili in their trilogy co-main event
Nicolle Caliari weighed 120.5 pounds; her bout with Iasmin Lucindo proceeds at catchweight and she forfeits 30 percent of her purse
All 14 bouts stream on Paramount+: early prelims 10 a.m. ET, prelims 12 p.m. ET, main card 2 p.m. ET
Reported, not confirmed
Dana White says Alexander Volkov will get a heavyweight title shot
MMA Mania
UFC 333 brings two title fights to Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, and every championship fighter made weight. Alexander Volkanovski, a two-time featherweight champion, comes in off consecutive title wins over Diego Lopes. Movsar Evloev is unbeaten and 10-0 since his 2019 UFC debut.
The co-main event settles a rivalry. Dvalishvili won their first fight in 2023. Yan took the rematch last December at UFC 323, regaining the 135-pound belt and ending Dvalishvili's 14-fight win streak. At the final face-off, Yan told Dvalishvili he would be his "executioner" on Saturday, La Sueur reports, adding that Yan is a slight favorite.
The press conference's talking point was Dana White appearing not to recognize heavyweight Alexander Volkov, who posed as a newcomer asking how to become champion. White told Main Event he knew all along and was waiting for a punchline: "I absolutely knew." White also said Volkov is in the title mix. According to MMA Fanatik Slovakia, Volkov has his eye on the winner of Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit at UFC 334. First he faces No. 5-ranked Rizvan Kuniev on the main card.
The main card also includes Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Ramazan Temirov and Aaron Pico vs. Losene Keita. Azamat Murzakanov vs. Dominick Reyes headlines the prelims. France's Noah Gugnon meets Kody Steele on the early prelims in his second UFC fight.
Summary
UFC 333 is Saturday in Abu Dhabi with both title fights official after weigh-ins; Nicolle Caliari missed weight, and no results are in yet.
Key points (one per line)
Volkanovski defends the featherweight title against undefeated Movsar Evloev in the UFC 333 main event
Petr Yan defends the bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili in their trilogy co-main event
Nicolle Caliari missed weight by 4.5 pounds; her bout with Iasmin Lucindo goes ahead at catchweight
Dana White says he recognized Alexander Volkov at the press conference and that Volkov will get a title shot
