Abu Dhabi, Dubai played host to a packed UFC 333 event this past Saturday. The headliner featured Alexander Volkanovski putting his featherweight crown on the line versus Movsar Evloev. Meanwhile, the co-featured bout saw Petr Yan defend his bantamweight strap during a trilogy clash against Merab Dvalishvili.
When the dust settled, Volkanovski retained his championship courtesy of a second-round stoppage victory. As for the co-main feature, Yan earned a hard-fought decision against Dvalishvili in what stood out as one of the year’s top contests. In the wake of UFC 333, let’s explore potential matchmaking options for the four athletes featured in these championship matchups.
Alexander Volkanovski
Though Alexander Volkanovski faced skepticism heading into UFC 333, he put those doubts to rest completely. Sharp in the striking department, Volkanovski wore down Evloev before forcing a referee stoppage late in the second round with only moments remaining.
The triumph keeps Volkanovski atop the featherweight division, though speculation lingers regarding his upcoming career choices. He might decide to hang up the gloves, continue defending at 145 pounds, or make another run at 155 pounds. Ideally, Volkanovski should transition to lightweight to challenge Justin Gaethje for the lightweight belt in a high-stakes, joint retirement bout.
Movsar Evloev
Movsar Evloev brought an unblemished professional record into UFC 333, yet he came up short against the champion. Unable to initiate his wrestling signature or find success standing, he was constantly disrupted by Volkanovski’s powerful striking and jab, ultimately resulting in his stoppage defeat.
Following this setback, Evloev must regroup and likely secure a few victories before securing another shot at gold. A sensible matchup moving forward would be facing Youssef Zalal, who recently dropped a contest to Aljamain Sterling. The victor would re-enter the title picture, whereas the defeated party would risk stepping into a gatekeeper position.
Petr Yan
Petr Yan ultimately exerted control in his rematch with Merab Dvalishvili, despite the initial two frames mirroring their original encounter. Early on, Yan was pressured by Dvalishvili’s relentless grappling and high tempo, but he seized the momentum in round three, pushing forward with heavy strikes to secure a victory on the judges’ scorecards.
This win marked Yan’s inaugural defense of his bantamweight championship. While several potential opponents exist, a high-profile return match with Sean O’Malley stands out as the premier option. It remains the most lucrative matchup the promotion can book, especially since O’Malley holds a win over Song Yadong, the other primary challenger.
Merab Dvalishvili
Merab Dvalishvili initially appeared primed to reclaim the championship, but his output slowed during the final three rounds, leading to a decision loss. Forced to rebuild, Dvalishvili would benefit from squaring off against Mario Bautista in his next outing, with the victor earning a strong case for a title opportunity.
How would you match up the top competitors following UFC 333?
This story was originally published on BJPENN.COM
