UFC 333: VOLK VS EVLOEV DEAD HEAT AS YAN-MERAB TRILOGY LOOMS
The books can't split Volkanovski vs Evloev at -110 apiece — and the Yan-Merab trilogy settles the bantamweight rivalry.
Seven days out from Abu Dhabi, the books can't split the main event.
UFC 333 lands at the Etihad Arena on October 24 with two title fights on top — and the featherweight championship between Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev is priced as a pure coin flip: -110 apiece at BetOnline, the closest odds of Volkanovski's career.
The co-main is the rivalry that won't die. Bantamweight champion Petr Yan defends against Merab Dvalishvili for the third time, with Yan a -180 favorite and Dvalishvili at +155. Yan ended Dvalishvili's reign in their December rematch at UFC 323, three years after "The Machine" dominated their first meeting. Now the rubber match decides it.
Dvalishvili is already talking about what comes after. "If I win, Song Yadong is next," he told MMA Junkie. "Because we never fought each other, he's dangerous, and we always know he has knockout power. If Petr Yan wins, then Sean O'Malley, because they have a history."
Song earned his claim with a statement August on home soil, knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov to climb to No. 2 in the rankings after beating Deiveson Figueiredo in May.
Evloev, undefeated and fighting for the belt for the first time, told MMA Junkie his mission has shifted. The finish he once chased has given way to something harder: proving he can beat Volkanovski across all five rounds. He pointed to his run of UFC decision wins as proof the scorecards are his territory, said the week away from camp at the press conference left him mentally restored, and reported feeling stronger, sharper and faster with the weight cut now the focus.
He also acknowledged the champion's stature — and his ambitions beyond Saturday. Volkanovski has openly discussed a lightweight superfight with Justin Gaethje. Evloev's response: he plans to stop the Australian from reaching it on a winning streak.
Yan, for his part, won't let flag-waving cloud his read. He called Volkanovski-Evloev 55/45 for the champion and said Evloev needs a finish — submission or knockout — to take the belt. He also ruled out a featherweight move against his friend Volkanovski down the line.
The rest of the card is stacked with leverage fights: Aaron Pico (+105) meets Losene Keita (-125) in a featherweight crossroads bout, Alexander Volkov (-130) faces Rizvan Kuniev (+110) at heavyweight, and Dominick Reyes (+175) takes on Azamat Murzakanov (-205).
Main card starts 6 p.m. UTC on Paramount+.
