UFC 333 Abu Dhabi Press Conference: Volkanovski, Evloev, Yan, and Dvalishvili Set for High-Stakes Showdown

ABU DHABI — The UFC officially returned to the capital of the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, with CEO Dana White headlining the press conference for the highly anticipated UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev event at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. Joined by four of the biggest names in combat sports, White set the stage for Saturday’s sold-out card, marking a significant milestone for the promotion’s presence in the Middle East.

“It’s good to be back here in Abu Dhabi,” White told the gathered crowd of local and international media. Sharing the stage were featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, undefeated No. 1-ranked contender Movsar Evloev, bantamweight champion Petr Yan, and No. 1-ranked contender Merab Dvalishvili. The elite fighters shared their final thoughts and faced off ahead of the championship bouts.

In the main event, Volkanovski (28-4-0) puts his featherweight title on the line against the flawless Evloev (20-0-0), who enters his inaugural title bout with a perfect professional record. Volkanovski acknowledged the formidable challenge but expressed supreme confidence in his ability to dismantle the Russian contender’s game.

“I think he’s the toughest fight for everybody in the division, just not me,” Volkanovski stated. “He’s got a lot of skill, but a lot of those skills won’t work on me. That’s what I truly do believe.” Evloev countered with his own assured response: “With all respect to the champ, I can do anything I want and I’ll prove it.”

The co-main event features a trilogy bout between bantamweight champion Petr Yan (20-5-0) and Merab Dvalishvili (21-5-0), with the rivalry deadlocked at one victory each. Dvalishvili took their first encounter via unanimous decision in 2023, but Yan reclaimed the gold in their December 2025 rematch. For Yan, Saturday’s clash holds deep personal significance in Abu Dhabi, the city where he first captured UFC gold by defeating Jose Aldo in 2020.

“Abu Dhabi for me is the best place,” Yan remarked. “I remember 2020 when I took my belt here against Jose Aldo, and I already defended my title here.” Dvalishvili, looking to reclaim his crown, shared his appreciation for the local fanbase: “I love Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi loves me. I’m grateful for all the fans. I’m just going to fight hard, so don’t blink on Saturday. Make sure you watch our fight — it’s going to be good.”

The press conference also featured lighthearted moments, including an appearance from heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov, who is set to face Rizvan Kuniev on the main card. Stepping out of the audience, Volkov playfully sought advice from Volkanovski on transitioning to a champion’s mindset, before asking White directly what it takes to earn a title shot. The event concluded on a humorous note when a fan challenged White to shave his head in exchange for tickets. White proposed an alternative: “How about I just give you tickets and not shave your head?” The fan readily accepted the deal, and the evening culminated with the four title fighters standing face-to-face for their final promotional confrontations.

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