UFC 333 final faceoffs: Alex Volkanovski, Petr Yan set the stage with intense last staredowns

· Yahoo Sports

Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan are ready to go to work.

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The two reigning UFC champions hit the stage Friday for UFC 333's ceremonial weigh-ins in Abu Dhabi, just one day before both are set to defend their respective titles against formidable challengers — the undefeated Movsar Evloev for Volkanovski, and longtime rival Merab Dvalishvili for Yan. All four championship competitors, in addition to the other 24 fighters on the UFC 333 card, squared off for their final faceoffs at the morning’s proceedings and made their final pre-fight remarks.

Volkanovski, who defends his UFC featherweight title against the No. 1-ranked Evloev in Saturday’s main event, engaged in a tense but respectful nose-to-nose staredown with his challenger, then gave a shoutout to the meritocratic setup of this weekend’s top two fights — a setup that’s becoming an increasing rarity in today’s era of the UFC.

“You’re in for a treat,” Volkanovski, 38, said. “Co-main and main event, champion vs. No. 1 contender — that’s how it should be. Let’s put on a show for you.”

Evloev, 32, has been seemingly unbeatable in his UFC run, however his grinding, decision-heavy approach has forced him to take the long road to the belt. He enters Saturday’s title challenge with a perfect 10-0 record in 10 appearances with the promotion.

“All the work has been done, everything that needs to be said has been said,” Evloev said. “Now I need to do the things I’ve been working on for so long, let’s go.”

Co-headliners Yan and Dvalishvili also shared a tense final faceoff ahead of their trilogy bout for Yan’s bantamweight championship.

Dvalishvili, 35, beat Yan, 33, in a rout in a non-title affair back in 2023, but suffered an upset loss in the rematch this past December to drop the UFC belt.

“On Saturday, I’ll show you who’s the best of the best,” said Yan.

“This is going to be an exciting fight,” Dvalishvili said. “And new.”

UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev is set to kick off Saturday at 10 a.m. ET on Paramount+ with a 14-fight card. Uncrowned will have live coverage of the entire event.

  • Featherweight championship: Alexander Volkanovski (144.5) vs. Movsar Evloev (145)

  • Bantamweight championship: Petr Yan (135) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (135)

  • Flyweight: Lone'er Kavanagh (125.5) vs. Ramazan Temirov (126)

  • Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov (256) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (265)

  • Featherweight: Aaron Pico (145.5) vs. Losene Keita (146)

  • Light heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov (206) vs. Dominick Reyes (205)

  • Light heavyweight: Nikita Krylov (206) vs. Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev (206)

  • Middleweight: Abus Magomedov (185.5) vs. Cam Rowston (185)

  • Lightweight: Grant Dawson (156) vs. Nurullo Aliev (155)

  • Bantamweight: Colby Thicknesse (135.5) vs. Asaf Chopurov (136)

  • Middleweight: Abubakar Vagaev (185.5) vs. Jacob Malkoun (186)

  • Featherweight: Bolaji Oki (146) vs. Daniel Santos (146)

  • Lightweight: Kody Steele (156) vs. Noah Gugnon (156)

  • Women's strawweight: Iasmin Lucindo (115) vs. Nicolle Caliari (120.5)*

*Caliari missed weight by 4.5 pounds; Caliari forfeits 30% of her purse to her opponent and the fight proceeds as scheduled

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