UFC 333 Results: Volkanovski and Yan Defend Titles in Abu Dhabi

UFC 333 took place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski’s featherweight title defense against Movsar Evloev. The event featured a total of 14 bouts, including a bantamweight title trilogy fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili, and resulted in $100,000 performance bonuses for four athletes. Beyond the marquee bouts, the card saw a series of high-stakes matchups, including Alexander Volkov’s unanimous decision victory over Rizvan Kuniev (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) and Grant Dawson’s win over Nurullo Aliev by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27).

Alexander Volkanovski Stops Movsar Evloev in Second Round

Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his featherweight title by securing a TKO victory over previously undefeated challenger Movsar Evloev. According to MMA Mania, the stoppage occurred at 4:54 of the second round after Volkanovski stunned Evloev with punches and forced a referee intervention. Heavy.com reports that this performance earned Volkanovski a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus, marking a significant victory for the 38-year-old champion. Following the fight, Volkanovski indicated he does not plan to retire, as noted by Sherdog.

Petr Yan Retains Bantamweight Title Against Merab Dvalishvili

In the co-main event, Petr Yan successfully defended his bantamweight crown against Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 48-47. This matchup served as the trilogy fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333, where Yan successfully defended his bantamweight title via unanimous decision. The contest saw the two competitors trade momentum over 25 minutes, with the champion securing the final three rounds to retain his belt. Both fighters were awarded $100,000 for "Fight of the Night" honors, according to Sherdog and Heavy.com.

Lone’er Kavanagh Secures Flyweight Finish

Flyweight prospect Lone’er Kavanagh earned a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus after stopping Ramazan Temirov via TKO at 4:28 of the first round. Bleacher Report highlights the maturity and striking precision shown by the English fighter, who landed a decisive uppercut to end the contest. Respectfully, anyone can get it, said Kavanagh following his win. Kavanagh, now 11-2 as a professional, is positioned as a rising contender within the division, with analysts noting that if Joshua Van defeats Manel Kape in January, a title path for the Englishman could emerge.

Additional UFC 333 Finish Bonuses

The promotion awarded $25,000 finish bonuses to five fighters who secured stoppage victories during the event, as detailed by Heavy.com:

• Aaron Pico: Defeated Losene Keita by TKO at 1:14 of the first round.
• Dominick Reyes: Knocked out Azamat Murzakanov with a head kick and punches at 2:40 of the first round.
• Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev: Stopped Nikita Krylov with a knee and punches at 2:38 of the first round; referee Jason Herzog stepped in to stop the contest after Yakhyaev landed the knee.
• Abus Magomedov: Submitted Cam Rowston via guillotine choke at 1:44 of the first round.
• Kody Steele: Knocked out Noah Gugnon at 3:54 of the first round.

Preliminary Card Results

The event’s undercard featured several tightly contested bouts. Colby Thicknesse defeated Asaf Chopurov by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28), while Abubakar Vagaev secured a unanimous decision victory over Jacob Malkoun (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Other results included Daniel Santos defeating Bolaji Oki by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) and Iasmin Lucindo winning via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Nicolle Caliari.

Frequently Asked Questions About UFC 333 Results

Where did the event take place?
UFC 333 was hosted at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on October 24, 2026.

Which fighters received the highest bonuses?
Alexander Volkanovski, Lone’er Kavanagh, Petr Yan, and Merab Dvalishvili each received $100,000 for their respective "Performance of the Night" or "Fight of the Night" honors, according to Heavy.com and Sherdog.

What was the outcome of the main card opener?
Aaron Pico opened the main card by defeating Losene Keita via TKO in the first round, earning a $25,000 finish bonus for his effort.

The high intensity of the event led one observer to ask, WHO THE HELL WOULD WANT TO FIGHT ANY OF THESE GUYS? as the promotion continues to showcase deep talent pools across its divisions.

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