UFC 333 Winners Set Up Potential 2027 Rematches and Title Pursuits
Volkanovski seeks Oliveira, while Yan and Dvalishvili face immediate opportunities for high-stakes bouts.
By Jabari Long ·
UFC 333 concluded with successful title defenses for Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan, but the fighters now face distinct paths forward. Volkanovski aims for a lightweight crossover bout with Charles Oliveira, while Yan looks to settle a trilogy with Sean O'Malley. The results set the stage for several high-profile matchups in the coming year.
Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev in two rounds to retain the featherweight belt. The victory sets up a potential fight with Oliveira, who defends the BMF title against Diego Lopes at UFC 335 in December. Volkanovski has three UFC losses, two of which occurred at lightweight. A win over Oliveira would position him as a contender for the 155-pound belt. He previously expressed hesitation about jumping the queue to face Justin Gaethje while Arman Tsarukyan remains an obvious challenger.
Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision to close their trilogy. The bantamweight champion now has a clear target in Sean O'Malley. O'Malley defeated Yan in 2022 in a controversial split decision. Since that loss, O'Malley has recorded two wins, including a knockout of Aiemann Zahabi. Song Yadong also holds a strong case for a title shot, having lost to O'Malley in January. Yan is expected to face both fighters in the near future.
Dvalishvili, who comes off his second consecutive loss, is likely to seek a rematch with Umar Nurmagomedov. Their first fight at UFC 311 in January 2025 was named fight of the night. Nurmagomedov is expected to return before Ramadan begins in February. The UFC may also consider Payton Talbott as a wildcard option. Talbott, 28, has earned a step up in competition after recent success.
Evloev, now 9-2 in the UFC, may serve as a gatekeeper in the featherweight division. Pat Sabatini is the most logical next opponent for the formerly unbeaten fighter. Sabatini holds a 9-2 record in the promotion. Steve Garcia is another potential opponent, coming off a loss to Lopes in June.
Aaron Pico is expected to face Jean Silva next. Pico defeated Patricio Pitbull in April. The matchup offers a high-risk, high-reward opportunity for Pico, who has a history of absorbing heavy finishes. Youssef Zalal remains a wildcard candidate for Pico, despite a recent loss to Aljamain Sterling.
The next major events include UFC 335 in December and a potential January card. These bouts will determine the immediate future of the featherweight and bantamweight divisions.
