Volkanovski's UFC 333 Win Sparks GOAT Debate, Inspires Adesanya

Alexander Volkanovski's dominant victory at UFC 333 has initiated widespread discussions regarding his status as the greatest featherweight of all time and beyond, while also providing inspiration for former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

Volkanovski secured a decisive win against Movsar Evloev by KO/TKO punches in the second round at 4:54 of their featherweight championship bout on October 24, 2026. This performance led Sherdog to report that his win reignited the GOAT debate in the sport. Adding another layer to his impressive showing, Sherdog also revealed that Volkanovski refused pre-fight medication before his title defense.

Adesanya's Renewed Motivation

The Australian champion's masterclass at UFC 333 resonated deeply with Israel Adesanya. NDTV Sports reported that Adesanya found new inspiration following Volkanovski’s performance. Yahoo Sports echoed this sentiment, stating that Adesanya found new motivation for a UFC comeback after the finish. Adesanya, who holds a UFC record of 13-6-0 across nineteen UFC fights, has faced a challenging period in his career, with his last win coming in April 2023 at UFC 287 against Alex Pereira. Since then, he has suffered four consecutive losses, including a submission defeat to Dricus Du Plessis in August 2024 and a TKO loss to Joe Pyfer in March 2026. Currently ranked #9 in the Middleweight division, Adesanya's takedown defense stands at 73% before his last fight, with an Elo rating of 1113 after his most recent bout.

Reactions and Challenges

The aftermath of UFC 333 also saw specific reactions from other fighters within the sport. Chris Weidman, a former UFC Middleweight Champion, criticized Movsar Evloev’s wrestling performance during the fight, labeling it 'lazy,' according to Sherdog. Evloev, who entered the bout with an undefeated professional record, suffered his first career loss against Volkanovski. Meanwhile, Lerone Murphy publicly questioned the criteria for featherweight title shots following Volkanovski’s victory, as reported by MMA Sucka.

Beyond the immediate reactions, Volkanovski's dominant showing has also attracted attention from champions outside the UFC. Sherdog reported that an undefeated PFL and Rizin champion, boasting a 20-0 professional record, has issued a challenge to Volkanovski.

Volkanovski's Reign Continues

Alexander Volkanovski, currently ranked #2 in the Men's Pound-for-Pound rankings and holding the Featherweight championship, extended his UFC record to 16-3-0 across nineteen UFC fights with his win over Evloev. This victory marked his third consecutive win, following unanimous decision victories over Diego Lopes in April 2025 and January 2026. Before this recent win streak, Volkanovski experienced two losses in 2023 and 2024, first to Islam Makhachev at Lightweight in October 2023 and then to Ilia Topuria at Featherweight in February 2024. His age at his last fight was 38, standing at 5' 6'' with a 71'' reach and fighting from an Orthodox stance. His takedown defense before his last fight was 69%, with an average of 1.8 takedowns per fight at 35% accuracy. His Elo rating after his last fight stands at 1213. No next fight is currently booked on the UFC schedule for the featherweight champion.

By the numbers

Fighter	UFC record	Ranking
Alexander Volkanovski	16-3-0	Featherweight champion
Israel Adesanya	13-6-0	Middleweight #9

UFC records count UFC fights only. Records and rankings from UFC Stats and ufc.com.

Follow bjjmetrics.com/ufc for more.

Alexander Volkov Defeats Rizvan Kuniev at UFC 333, Calls for Title Shot

Alexander Volkov earned a unanimous decision victory over Rizvan Kuniev at UFC 333, held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 24, 2026. Following his win, Volkov publicly called for a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship.

The heavyweight contest saw Volkov control the action, ultimately securing the win with judges' scores of 29-28, 30-27, and 30-27. Throughout the three-round bout, Volkov effectively utilized his significant reach advantage, working at range with a consistent jab and various kicks. In the third round, he intensified his attack, attempting rear-naked chokes. After the official decision was announced, Volkov addressed UFC President Dana White, expressing his desire for a heavyweight title shot, according to Yahoo Sports.

Volkov's Ascent in the Heavyweight Division

Alexander Volkov, standing at 6 feet 7 inches with an 80-inch reach, entered this fight as the official UFC Heavyweight #2 contender. Before this contest, the orthodox fighter had compiled a UFC record of 14 wins and 5 losses across 19 UFC fights. He was on a one-fight UFC win streak, having last competed in May 2026 at UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland, where he defeated Waldo Cortes Acosta by unanimous decision. In that bout, the pre-fight market had Volkov at a 56% chance to win. Prior to that, in October 2025 at UFC 321: Aspinall vs. Gane, he secured a split decision victory over Jailton Almeida. His only loss in his last five outings before this fight came in December 2024 at UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura, where he dropped a split decision to Ciryl Gane. Volkov, who was 37 years old at his last fight before facing Kuniev, has demonstrated solid defensive grappling, boasting a 77% takedown defense rate before this fight, alongside an average of 0.6 takedowns per fight with 61% accuracy.

Kuniev's Journey to the Top 10

Rizvan Kuniev, 34 years old at his last fight before UFC 333, came into this bout as the official UFC Heavyweight #7 contender. The 6-foot-4-inch orthodox fighter, with a 76-inch reach, held a UFC record of 2 wins and 1 loss over 3 UFC fights before this event. He was also on a one-fight UFC win streak, having most recently fought in July 2026 at UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov, where he defeated Tyrell Fortune by KO/TKO in the third round. The pre-fight market for that contest had Kuniev as a significant favorite, with a 97% chance to win. In February 2026, at UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs. Oliveira, Kuniev secured a unanimous decision victory over Jailton Almeida, a fight where the pre-fight market had him at a 38% chance to win. His sole UFC loss before facing Volkov was a split decision to Curtis Blaydes in June 2025 at UFC Fight Night: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. Kuniev's takedown defense before this fight stood at an impressive 93%, though he had not recorded any takedowns per fight in his UFC career prior to this contest.

By the numbers

Fighter	UFC record	Ranking
Alexander Volkov	14-5-0	Heavyweight #2
Rizvan Kuniev	2-1-0	Heavyweight #7

UFC records count UFC fights only. Records and rankings from UFC Stats and ufc.com.

Follow bjjmetrics.com/ufc for more.

Jose Aldo Suggests Cutting Undefeated Movsar Evloev After First Loss

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo recently ignited debate by suggesting that undefeated contender Movsar Evloev should be cut from the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster if he ever suffers a loss. Aldo's comments, made to MMAFighting.com's Guilherme Cruz, centered on the entertainment value and marketability of fighters within the promotion.

Aldo's Rationale for Roster Cuts

Aldo, a revered figure in the sport, argued that the UFC operates as both a ranking system and an entertainment business. He emphasized that a fighter's position in the rankings should not be the sole determinant for opportunities, especially title shots. According to Aldo, Evloev, despite his top ranking, does not generate sufficient fan interest. "I'd wait for him to lose for the first time and then cut him because he's a guy who doesn't sell, a guy who puts on boring fights, a guy who doesn't draw attention, who just stays inactive," Aldo stated, explaining his perspective on why he would remove Evloev from the roster if he were in a position of authority.

Evloev's Undefeated Streak and Style

Movsar Evloev currently holds an unblemished UFC record of 10-0-0, making him one of the most dominant fighters in the featherweight division. His consistent winning streak has propelled him to the official UFC ranking of #1 in the featherweight division. Evloev, who was thirty-two years old at his last fight, has secured all ten of his UFC victories by decision, a fact that appears to be central to Aldo's criticism regarding his fighting style. His last win, a majority decision over Lerone Murphy, occurred in March 2026 at UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs. Murphy, where pre-fight market odds favored him at sixty-nine percent to win.

A Look at Evloev's Dominance and Upcoming Challenge

Evloev's path to the top of the featherweight rankings has been marked by a series of impressive decision victories against high-caliber opponents. Before his last fight, he was on a nine-fight UFC win streak. In December 2024, he defeated Aljamain Sterling by unanimous decision at UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura. Prior to that, he secured a unanimous decision win against Arnold Allen in January 2024 at UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis. Other notable decision victories include a unanimous decision over Diego Lopes in May 2023 at UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo and a unanimous decision win against Dan Ige in June 2022 at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik. His wrestling prowess is evident in his statistics, averaging 4.7 takedowns per fight with a fifty-seven percent accuracy, complemented by a robust seventy-four percent takedown defense. His Kimono Fighter Elo rating after his last fight stands at 1128.

Evloev is now set to face his biggest challenge yet, a championship bout against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev.

By the numbers

Fighter	UFC record	Ranking
Movsar Evloev	10-0-0	Featherweight #1

UFC records count UFC fights only. Records and rankings from UFC Stats and ufc.com.

Follow bjjmetrics.com/ufc for more.

Yan and Dvalishvili Set for Bantamweight Trilogy at UFC 333

The bantamweight division is set for a pivotal clash as Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili prepare to complete their trilogy at UFC 333 on October twenty-fourth, two thousand twenty-six.

Trilogy History and Fighter Reactions

The rivalry between Yan and Dvalishvili stands at one win apiece. Dvalishvili secured the first victory via unanimous decision in March two thousand twenty-three. Yan then evened the score at UFC 323 in December two thousand twenty-five, defeating Dvalishvili by unanimous decision in a five-round contest to regain the title.

The upcoming trilogy has drawn significant attention, including comments from fellow bantamweight contender Sean O'Malley. O'Malley has openly expressed his support for Petr Yan in the upcoming bout, stating that a Yan victory would position him back in the title picture. According to CBS Sports, O'Malley also suggested that Yan's performance in their second fight may have 'broken' Dvalishvili. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski also weighed in, picking Yan to win, citing Yan's dominant performance in their last fight.

Merab Dvalishvili, for his part, has indicated he is ready for the challenge. In an interview with Din Thomas, Dvalishvili stated, "I have tools I haven't shown" for the trilogy bout.

Tactical Previews and Fighter Data

Analysis leading into UFC 333 suggests that Petr Yan's success will hinge on maintaining the tactics that proved effective in their second fight. MMA Sucka highlighted the importance of Yan countering Dvalishvili's relentless pressure, effectively trapping his lead hand, landing body shots, and utilizing intercepting sidekicks to control distance and disrupt takedown attempts. In their last fight, Yan successfully defended twenty-seven of Dvalishvili's twenty-nine takedown attempts, demonstrating his strong takedown defense.

Petr Yan enters UFC 333 as the reigning Bantamweight champion and is ranked fourth in the Men's Pound-for-Pound rankings. His UFC record stands at 12-4-0. Before his victory over Dvalishvili at UFC 323, Yan was on a three-fight UFC win streak. His takedown defense is an impressive eighty-six percent.

Merab Dvalishvili, ranked as the number one contender in the bantamweight division and ninth in the Men's Pound-for-Pound rankings, holds a UFC record of 14-3-0. Prior to his loss to Yan in December two thousand twenty-five, Dvalishvili was on an extensive fourteen-fight UFC win streak. Known for his grappling prowess, Dvalishvili averages 7.3 takedowns per fight with a forty-three percent accuracy.

The bantamweight championship bout between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 is scheduled for October twenty-fourth, two thousand twenty-six, with the series tied and the title on the line.

By the numbers

Fighter	UFC record	Ranking
Petr Yan	12-4-0	Bantamweight champion
Merab Dvalishvili	14-3-0	Bantamweight #1

UFC records count UFC fights only. Records and rankings from UFC Stats and ufc.com.

Follow bjjmetrics.com/ufc for more.

Volkanovski Confident Ahead of UFC 333 Title Defense Against Undefeated Evloev

Volkanovski, currently ranked as the Men's Pound-for-Pound #2 and the Featherweight champion, believes he presents a challenging matchup for Evloev. He told Paramount+ that while he considers Evloev the best in the division outside of himself, stylistically, it is one of the better matchups for him. Volkanovski further elaborated, stating that Evloev's skills, which pose problems for many fighters, do not trouble him.

The champion also commented on Evloev's fighting approach, noting that the challenger has secured all ten of his UFC victories by decision. Volkanovski asserted that it would be a difficult task for anyone to defeat him over 25 minutes, suggesting that Evloev's typical path to victory would not be effective against him. He even proposed that Evloev's best strategy might be to attempt a knockout rather than rely on his wrestling, anticipating that his own takedown defense would neutralize Evloev's grappling plans.

Movsar Evloev, the #1 ranked Featherweight contender, offered a direct response to Volkanovski's assessment. In an interview with MMA Junkie, Evloev called Volkanovski's approach "a little illogical" and declared, "I will do anything I want. Whenever I decide to take him down, I will take him down". Evloev, who maintains a perfect 10-0-0 UFC record, also highlighted improvements in his striking and expressed belief that his time to become champion is approaching.

Fighter Data Insights

Alexander Volkanovski enters UFC 333 with a UFC record of 15-3-0 across eighteen fights. The 37-year-old champion is coming off a unanimous decision win against Diego Lopes in January 2026 at UFC 325, following another unanimous decision victory over Lopes in April 2025. These wins followed two losses in 2024 and 2023, one by KO/TKO to Ilia Topuria in February 2024 and another by KO/TKO to Islam Makhachev in October 2023 in a Lightweight bout. Volkanovski boasts a 70% takedown defense rate.

Movsar Evloev, aged 32, holds an unblemished 10-0-0 UFC record over ten fights and is currently on a nine-fight UFC win streak. His most recent victory was a majority decision over Lerone Murphy in March 2026. Evloev is known for his wrestling prowess, averaging 4.7 takedowns per fight with 57% accuracy, and maintaining a 74% takedown defense. The upcoming bout marks his first championship opportunity.

The stylistic clash has drawn attention from other fighters. Dustin Poirier, for instance, has favored Evloev, citing Volkanovski's age and Evloev's current momentum. Former opponent Islam Makhachev also leans towards the challenger. Volkanovski's coach, Joe Lopez, reportedly acknowledged that Evloev's defensive grappling could present a favorable style for the champion to overcome.

UFC 333, featuring Volkanovski vs. Evloev for the Featherweight title, is scheduled to take place on October 24, 2026, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

By the numbers

Fighter	UFC record	Ranking
Alexander Volkanovski	15-3-0	Featherweight champion
Movsar Evloev	10-0-0	Featherweight #1

UFC records count UFC fights only. Records and rankings from UFC Stats and ufc.com.

Follow bjjmetrics.com/ufc for more.