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In the main event of UFC 333 tonight, Alexander Volkanovski faces an intriguing test as he bids to solve the Movsar Evloev puzzle.
Having become a two-time featherweight champion last year, Volkanovski is aiming to keep his second title reign alive, but to do so, the ageing great must do what no fighter has done: beat the 20-0 Evloev.
The co-main event in Abu Dhabi also sees gold up for grabs, as Petr Yan fights Merab Dvalishvili for the third time.
In December, Yan produced a masterclass to take the bantamweight belt from Dvalishvili, avenging a 2023 loss to the “Machine”. Tonight’s clash should therefore settle their rivalry once and for all…
Follow live updates and results from UFC 333, below:
Next up: Britain’s Lone’er Kavanagh in action
British flyweight Lone’er Kavanagh is in action next, fighting Ramazan Temirov. Here’s an exclusive interview with Kavanagh by our own Will Castle:
Just 14 months ago, Lone’er Kavanagh was coming off the worst night of his career.
A 26-year-old prospect at the time, Kavanagh had been knocked out by Charles Johnson – a fighter with a career-high ranking of No 14 (and one of the most out-there haircuts in the fight game) – simultaneously stripping him of his undefeated record and dashing his momentum.
“Obviously it was hard,” he told The Independent. “Losing is never fun.”
Jump to present day and Kavanagh’s one career loss is now two. But instead of being resigned as a faltering prospect, he finds himself in the upper echelons of the flyweight division, maybe a couple fights away from a title shot.
Birthday win – title fight next?
Alexander Volkov def. Rizvan Kuniev via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Happy birthday to the next heavyweight title challenger (surely!).
Volkov almost celebrates 38th birthday with submission win!
Round three
Well, well, well. Fans online are torn on who won round two. For us, it was a Volkov round.
Kuniev with a slow spinning back kick that misses. Volkov lands a body kick. Both men land punches at close range; they’re throwing more combinations now, mixing in hooks and uppercuts.
It’s dangerous from Volkov if he’s 20-18 up, but he can’t be sure that he is. So, maybe he feels the risks are necessary.
Volkov trips his fellow Russian and weighs on Kuniev, who is on his knees. Volkov then circles around and takes the back with ease!
Just over a minute to go, and Volkov has the neck! Can he celebrate his birthday with a submission win? Kuniev survives to the buzzer, but surely Volkov sealed the decision win anyway.
Volkov comfortable ahead of final round
Kuniev with a couple of good jabs of his own, but to land them, he’s leaning steeply to his right; a head kick is there for Volkov if he can time it.
Kuniev’s nose is bloodied. He just misses with a big cross effort then eats a couple of smart counters.
A clinch ensues, and Kuniev glances at the clock. They separate.
Volkov’s team is calling for a right head kick, not the left I’d identified.
Instead, Volkov lands a couple of good punches at close range.
Volkov full of confidence
Volkov with a jab up top and some more body work. Kuniev clinches, but again Volkov spins him around and holds him against the fence.
Off the cage wall, and Kuniev tries to bounce around and be light on his feet. Volkov with another nice jab, then a front kick to the body.
You get the feeling he won their past sparring rounds; that’s how confident and positive he looks tonight.
Another knee to the midriff of Kuniev in a clinch. Hook from Kuniev and uppercut by Volkov. One-two by Volkov, then a poor takedown shot from Kuniev.
Superman punch from Kuniev lands!
Volkov vs Kuniev
Nice low kick by Volkov, who slides out of range of a front kick to the body from Kuniev. It’s Volkov going forward still.
Another low kick, but he’s jabbed over the top at the same time. Kuniev with a right hook in the clinch, but Volkov fires back with a knee to the body.
Volkov is cut around his right eyebrow due to some of that clinch work from his compatriot.
Volkov vs Kuniev
The crowd is more behind Volkov than I’ve ever heard before; they seem to really be rooting for him after the past injustices against him.
He lands a great uppercut then backs up Kuniev, who is breathing heavily here. Kuniev grabs ahold of Volkov, but the veteran reverses the clinch against the fence.
Out in the open, Volkov steps in with a stern jab. Kuniev complains of a low blow, but does he just want another breather?
No, it’s a low blow. Time out.
Volkov and Kuniev have history
These two are former training partners, but Kuniev had no problem taunting Volkov this week – handing him a birthday cake with an updated record on it, which included a loss to Kuniev tonight…
Volkov turns 38 today.
Heavyweight title eliminator?
Next up, Alexander Volkov (NOT Alexander Volkanovski!) faces Rizvan Kuniev at heavyweight.
Volkov is a veteran who’s been so unlucky not to get a title shot, especially over the last couple of years.
Yes, he was previously beaten easily by recent champion Tom Aspinall, but Aspinall has given up the belt – and Volkov has history with Gane.
The Russian was outpointed by Gane in 2021 but seemed to have returned the favour in late 2024… only to lose a controversial decision to the Frenchman.
If he beats compatriot Kuniev here, though, he could fight for the title next.
Gane was elevated from interim champion when Aspinall vacated his belt, and he’s defending against Josh Hokit next month.
