Volkanovski Breaks Featherweight Record as Yan Wins Trilogy at UFC 333

On October 24, 2026, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UFC veterans Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan turned back the clock to stymie the divisions’ rising contenders. Volkanovski defended his featherweight title by stopping the previously undefeated Movsar Evloev, while Yan secured a hard-fought decision over Merab Dvalishvili to close their high-stakes trilogy.

Alexander Volkanovski’s second-round TKO victory over Evloev at 4:54 was a masterclass in tactical maturity against a relentless grappler. With this win, Volkanovski officially reached nine UFC featherweight title-fight victories, surpassing the mark previously held by Jose Aldo for the most in the division’s history. The victory handed Evloev his first professional loss after a 20-0 start to his career.

Volkanovski's victory was a tactical masterclass against a relentless challenger.

The feat was made more impressive by Volkanovski’s post-fight revelation that he had battled the flu throughout the fight week. To ensure he stayed sharp for the main event, the champion reportedly refused medication, relying on his conditioning and experience to weather the wrestling pressure of his younger challenger. Following the defense, Volkanovski expressed interest in a potential lightweight superfight against Justin Gaethje, framing it as a possible send-off performance before the end of his career.

Yan Weathered the Storm in Abu Dhabi

In the co-main event, Petr Yan demonstrated the resilience that has defined his tenure at the top of the bantamweight division. Facing Merab Dvalishvili for the third time, Yan found himself under unprecedented pressure. Dvalishvili set a new UFC record for the most takedown attempts in a single fight with 58, though Yan successfully stuffed all but five of those attempts.

secured a unanimous decision after five grueling rounds in Abu Dhabi.

The judges’ scorecards showed a unanimous 48-47 comeback for Yan after he dropped the first two rounds to Dvalishvili’s high-volume wrestling. By finding his striking rhythm in the championship rounds and maintaining a high defensive success rate, Yan secured the win and a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head series.

The results at UFC 333 underscore a period of stability at the top of the featherweight and bantamweight rankings. While Dvalishvili and Evloev entered the night as the vanguard of a new generation, the tactical poise of Volkanovski and Yan proved sufficient to maintain their standing. For Evloev, the loss marks a reset in his quest for gold, while Dvalishvili faces a difficult path back to title contention after losing two of three in his series with Yan.

The post Volkanovski Breaks Featherweight Record as Yan Wins Trilogy at UFC 333 appeared first on World Weekly News.