Volkanovski Targets Oliveira; Yan Eyes O'Malley Rematch After UFC 333 Defenses

Alexander Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev in the second round on Saturday night at UFC 333. The victory marked the second round of a fight that lasted just 10 minutes and 18 seconds. It was the first time in Evloev's professional career that he had lost a bout. The result extends Volkanovski's reign as the UFC featherweight champion.

The bout concluded the main card of a pay-per-view event held in Las Vegas. Both title holders on the card kept their belts. Volkanovski now looks toward a move up in weight. He has suffered two of his three losses in the UFC at 155 pounds. His next move could involve a challenge for the BMF title or a direct shot at the lightweight belt.

Charles Oliveira is the primary candidate for Volkanovski's next fight. Oliveira is scheduled to defend that belt against Diego Lopes at UFC 335 in December. The source notes that both fighters remain active and competitive. A matchup in 2027 would allow Volkanovski to prove his status as a lightweight contender. It would also determine a legitimate challenger for the 155-pound title.

A potential wild card for Volkanovski is Arman Tsarukyan. Justin Gaethje, the current lightweight champion, has not confirmed whether he will fight again. If Gaethje retires after his June victory, Tsarukyan is the next in line. The UFC has indicated to Tsarukyan that he is the contender. Volkanovski would be in a position to step directly into that title shot.

In the bantamweight division, Petr Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. The win concluded a trilogy between the two fighters. Yan now holds the men's bantamweight title. His next opponent is likely Sean O'Malley. O'Malley has a controversial victory over Yan from 2022. He has won two fights since losing to Dvalishvili in 2024 and 2025.

Yan could also face Song Yadong. Song holds a strong case for a title shot after defeating O'Malley in January. However, O'Malley is viewed as the more logical next opponent for the champion. The source suggests that Yan will likely face both fighters in the near future.

Dvalishvili, who lost his second fight in a row, is expected to return quickly. His next opponent is likely Umar Nurmagomedov. The two fighters have a history dating back to UFC 311 in January 2025. Nurmagomedov is expected to be ready to fight by January, before the start of Ramadan in February. Both men are coming off losses, a factor the UFC often considers in matchmaking.

Aaron Pico, another winner on the card, is set to face Jean Silva. Pico defeated Patricio Pitbull in April. A fight against Silva would be a major ranking jump for Pico. The matchup is considered one of the most explosive potential bouts in the featherweight division. Youssef Zalal is a potential wild card for Pico, offering a contest between two fighters with high potential.

The schedule for these bouts depends on the outcomes of upcoming events. Oliveira and Lopes fight in December. Nurmagomedov aims to return before February. These dates will determine the timing of the title challenges and rematches for the UFC 333 winners.