UFC 333 Fallout: Volkanovski and Yan Set Sights on New Rivals

The title defenses at UFC 333 succeeded, but the aftermath has created immediate friction over who fights next. The two champions who stepped off the main card with their belts intact are now looking in opposite directions for their next bouts. Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan each have a preferred opponent who would make their respective title pictures more complicated.

Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev in the second round on Saturday. The victory kept Evloev's record from remaining perfect, but it also left Volkanovski with a choice. He can stay at 145 pounds or move up to 155 pounds. His history at lightweight is mixed. He has two losses and one win in that weight class. A move up would force him to fight for the BMF belt first.

Charles Oliveira is the target for that move. Oliveira is scheduled to defend the BMF title against Diego Lopes at UFC 335 in December. A Volkanovski versus Oliveira bout would take place in 2027. Both fighters are established veterans who have not shown a decline in performance. Volkanovski told ESPN in September that he did not want to jump the line at lightweight to face Justin Gaethje, especially with Arman Tsarukyan waiting as the official title challenger. A BMF win would make Volkanovski a legitimate contender for the 155-pound belt without bypassing Tsarukyan.

Tsarukyan remains the wildcard in the lightweight division. Gaethje has not confirmed whether he will fight again. If Gaethje retires after his June win, Tsarukyan becomes the undisputed number one contender. Volkanovski would have a case for a direct title shot in that scenario. The UFC has told Tsarukyan he is next in line, but the door remains open for Volkanovski if Gaethje steps aside.

Petr Yan finished his trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. The victory closed a long-running saga between the two fighters. Yan now wants a rematch with Sean O'Malley. O'Malley holds a controversial victory over Yan from 2022. Since losing to Dvalishvili in 2024 and 2025, O'Malley is 2-0. He beat Song Yadong and knocked out Aiemann Zahabi. Those wins are not definitive title shots, but the history between O'Malley and Yan makes the rematch a strong candidate.

Song Yadong is the alternative for Yan. Song has the strongest case for a title shot based on current rankings. O'Malley beat Song in January. A Yan versus Song fight would feature more explosive power, while the O'Malley rematch would be a tactical contest. Yan will likely face both fighters eventually, but O'Malley makes sense as the next step.

Dvalishvili is looking for a way back after his second consecutive loss. The most logical move is a rematch with Umar Nurmagomedov. Their first fight at UFC 311 in January 2025 was fight of the night. Nurmagomedov broke his hand early in that bout, and Dvalishvili fought through injuries during camp. Both are coming off losses, which the UFC often uses as a matchmaking tool. Nurmagomedov is expected to return by January, before Ramadan begins in February.

Payton Talbott is a dark horse option for Dvalishvili. At 28, Talbott has shown potential that the UFC might reward with a shortcut. A loss would not damage his career, but a win would make him a immediate title contender. For now, the Nurmagomedov rematch is the likely path.

Evloev faces a harder decision. He used the phrase "maybe I'll try again" regarding his future at 145 pounds. He is now the gatekeeper for the division. Pat Sabatini, who is 9-2 in the UFC, is the most obvious next opponent. Steve Garcia is another name, coming off a loss to Diego Lopes in June. Evloev will need to rebuild his record before challenging Volkanovski again.

Aaron Pico, who won on the main card, is set to face Jean Silva. The matchup was suggested after Pico's win over Patricio Pitbull in April. With Diego Lopes moving to lightweight, Silva is the next logical opponent. Pico has a history of devastating finishes, making this a risky bout for him. Youssef Zalal is the wildcard. Zalal is 30 and has a volatile record, having been cut after going 0-3 before winning five in a row. A Pico versus Zalal fight would pit two high-potential fighters against each other.