UFC 333 takes place on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski versus Movsar Evloev for the featherweight title, according to event previews, with Petr Yan versus Merab Dvalishvili 3 as the co-main event. It is one of the biggest cards of the year.
Volkanovski, the champion, is not looking past Evloev, who is unbeaten at 20-0 and earned his title shot with a win at UFC London earlier this year. If Evloev wins, the featherweight queue resets around him; if he loses, the division’s contenders will reshuffle again.
Yan versus Dvalishvili 3 is equally compelling. Fans have picked Yan in polls ahead of the co-main event, with Dvalishvili facing the prospect of his first losing skid in eight years. The trilogy fight promises high pace and high stakes.
Boxing And Wrestling Also In Focus
Saturday also brings big boxing in Sheffield, where Dalton Smith defends his WBC super lightweight title against Alberto Puello at Utilita Arena, live on DAZN. Smith, 19-0 with 14 knockouts, makes the first defence of the belt he claimed against Subriel Matias in January, while Puello, 24-1, looks to become champion again.
In wrestling crossover action, Arman Tsarukyan won the RAF 14 title with a 10-0 technical fall over Dillon Danis on Friday, according to reports, moving his promotional wrestling record to 8-1. His next listed assignment is against Neiman Gracie in Abu Dhabi on November 14.
Makhachev Toronto Fight Off
In other MMA news, Islam Makhachev’s planned UFC 336 main event against Carlos Prates in Toronto on January 30 is off, according to reports on October 24, with no return date set and no replacement headliner yet identified. The welterweight picture is now a waiting game.
For fight fans, Saturday is packed: UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, Smith-Puello in Sheffield and the fallout from Tsarukyan’s win. It is a weekend that could reshape three divisions.
