UFC 333 Results Set Path for Volkanovski, Yan, and Dvalishvili Rematches

The UFC 333 main card concluded with both champions retaining their belts, but the aftermath points toward three distinct paths for the top of the featherweight and bantamweight divisions.

Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defeated formerly unbeaten challenger Movsar Evloev in two rounds. This victory sets up a potential move for Volkanovski into the lightweight division, where two of his three career UFC losses occurred. The most likely next opponent is Charles Oliveira, who is scheduled to defend the BMF title against Diego Lopes at UFC 335 in December. If Oliveira wins that bout, a fight between the two MMA legends could take place in 2027. Volkanovski told ESPN in September that he did not love the idea of jumping the line at lightweight to fight Justin Gaethje, especially with Arman Tsarukyan as an obvious title challenger.

In the bantamweight division, champion Petr Yan closed his trilogy with former titleholder Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. This win sets the stage for a potential rematch against Sean O'Malley. O'Malley holds a controversial victory over Yan from 2022. Since losing to Dvalishvili in 2024 and 2025, O'Malley has compiled a 2-0 record, including a close win over Song Yadong and a knockout of Aiemann Zahabi. Song also has a strong case for a title shot, as he beat O'Malley in January. Yan is likely to face both fighters eventually, but O'Malley makes more sense as the immediate next step.

Dvalishvili, now coming off his second consecutive loss, is expected to return quickly. The most logical next opponent is Umar Nurmagomedov, who presumably wants to return by January before observing Ramadan in February. Their first fight in January 2025 was named fight of the night at UFC 311. Nurmagomedov broke his hand early in that bout, while Dvalishvili fought through injuries during camp. Both fighters are now coming off losses, a factor the UFC often considers in matchmaking.

For Evloev, the loss ends his unbeaten streak and leaves him in a difficult position. He is expected to serve as a gatekeeper for the division. Pat Sabatini, who is 9-2 in the UFC, is the most obvious name for that role. Steve Garcia is another option, coming off a loss to Diego Lopes at UFC Freedom 250 in June.

Aaron Pico, another featherweight on the card, faces a potential bout with Jean Silva. This matchup was suggested after Pico defeated Patricio Pitbull in April. With Diego Lopes moving up to lightweight to fight Oliveira in December, Silva would be a significant jump up the rankings for Pico. Pico has shown immense potential but has suffered devastating finishes throughout his career.