UFC 333 Winners Face Divergent Paths in Title Pursuits
Volkanovski and Yan secured their belts but now face complex scheduling and matchmaking decisions for their next bouts.
By Rachel Adams ·
UFC 333 delivered clear victors but left the promotion with complicated future scheduling. Alexander Volkanovski retained the featherweight title by stopping Movsar Evloev in the second round. Petr Yan reclaimed the men’s bantamweight championship from Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision. While both champions kept their gold, their next opponents are not immediately settled.
Volkanovski’s next move depends heavily on the featherweight division’s current hierarchy. The source analysis suggests Charles Oliveira is the logical choice, provided Oliveira defends the BMF belt against Diego Lopes at UFC 335 in December. A clash between the two legends would occur in 2027 at a time when both remain competitive. The BMF title adds a layer of legitimacy for the winner as a lightweight contender, a path Volkanovski previously expressed hesitation about by avoiding a jump to face Justin Gaethje while Arman Tsarukyan held a clear shot at the 155-pound title.
Should Gaethje retire after his June win in the White House, Tsarukyan becomes the primary target for Volkanovski. The UFC has already indicated to Tsarukyan that he is next in line, but Gaethje’s decision remains the variable. If the slot opens, Volkanovski would likely receive the title shot against Tsarukyan immediately.
Evloev faces a steeper climb after his first professional loss. He described his future as featherweight with the phrase "maybe I'll try again." The source identifies Pat Sabatini, who holds a 9-2 record in the UFC, as the most obvious gatekeeper for Evloev. Steve Garcia is cited as a secondary option following his June loss to Lopes at UFC Freedom 250.
Yan’s situation involves a rematch scenario. Sean O’Malley is highlighted as the biggest available fight for Yan. O’Malley has gone 2-0 since losing to Dvalishvili in 2024 and 2025, including a knockout of Aiemann Zahabi. He holds a controversial victory over Yan from 2022. Song Yadong presents an alternative, having beaten O’Malley in January. The source notes Yan will likely face both men, with O’Malley making more sense for the immediate title picture.
Dvalishvili, now coming off his second consecutive loss, is expected to return quickly. A rematch with Umar Nurmagomedov is described as a no-brainer due to genuine heat between the fighters. Their first bout in January 2025 was named fight of the night. Nurmagomedov is expected to fight again by January, before Ramadan begins in February. Payton Talbott is listed as a wild card option for Dvalishvili.
Aaron Pico’s next match is projected to be against Jean Silva. This pairing was suggested after Pico defeated Patricio Pitbull in April. With Lopes moving up to lightweight in December, Silva represents a major step up for Pico. The matchup is viewed as potentially explosive, though Pico has a history of suffering devastating finishes.
The division’s landscape is shifting with these outcomes. Volkanovski and Yan hold their belts but face distinct strategic choices. Evloev and Dvalishvili must rebuild their records. Pico seeks a high-stakes opportunity. The next six months will determine whether these fighters match up as predicted or if further wild card entries alter the hierarchy.
Source: ESPN
