Volkanovski stops Evloev at UFC 333, passes Jose Aldo record
The 38-year-old Australian ended the Russian’s unbeaten run with six seconds left in the second round and now has nine featherweight title fight wins
Alexander Volkanovski retained the UFC featherweight title on Saturday (Oct. 24) at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, stopping Movsar Evloev by TKO at 4:54 of the second round in the UFC 333 main event. The Russian came in with a perfect 20-0 record and left with his first career loss.
The win was the 38-year-old Australian’s ninth in UFC featherweight title fights, moving him past Jose Aldo, who had eight, for the division record. Volkanovski also earned a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
How Volkanovski finished Evloev
Evloev did what everyone expected in the first round. He went after the champion’s legs and got the fight to the mat, but he could not keep Volkanovski down. The Australian kept getting back up, set the pace on the feet and landed the cleaner shots.
In the second round, Evloev shot for another takedown. This time Volkanovski defended, reversed the position and ended up on top. Back on the feet near the fence, he landed a right and left combination that dropped the Russian.
From top position, the champion unloaded punches and hammerfists. Evloev covered up without fighting back, and referee Marc Goddard stepped in with six seconds left in the round.
Volkanovski’s promise and Jose Aldo’s criticism
Volkanovski had called it. During fight week, he vowed to finish the unbeaten Evloev before the five rounds were up. Evloev, who had won all 10 of his previous UFC fights by decision, said he planned to control the champion for 25 minutes.
The result also brings back Jose Aldo’s criticism. Four days before the event, the Brazilian former champion said he would cut Evloev after his first UFC loss, calling the Russian a fighter who does not sell and stalls. On the same night, Aldo watched his own featherweight title fight record fall.
Evloev’s resume included wins over Arnold Allen, Aljamain Sterling, Lerone Murphy and Brazil’s Diego Lopes. His perfect run ended in his first shot at the belt.
What Volkanovski said about his future
Volkanovski regained the title against Diego Lopes in April 2025 and beat him again in the rematch at UFC 325 in February. The Evloev win is his third straight since the knockout loss to Ilia Topuria in 2024.
In his Octagon interview with Daniel Cormier, the champion talked about fighting on. “I said if I didn’t take too much damage we probably will keep going,” he said. In recent weeks, he had already pitched a title superfight with Justin Gaethje.
In the co-main event, Petr Yan beat Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision to keep the bantamweight belt. Earlier on the card, Iasmin Lucindo and Daniel Santos picked up wins on the prelims.
UFC 333 results
Main card
- Alexander Volkanovski def. Movsar Evloev by TKO (punches) at 4:54 of Round 2
- Petr Yan def. Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision (48-47 x3)
- Lone’er Kavanagh def. Ramazonbek Temirov by TKO (punches) in Round 1
- Alexander Volkov def. Rizvan Kuniev by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Aaron Pico def. Losene Keita by TKO (punches) at 1:14 of Round 1
Prelims
- Dominick Reyes def. Azamat Murzakanov by KO (head kick and punches) at 2:40 of Round 1
- Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Nikita Krylov by TKO (knee and punches) at 2:38 of Round 1
- Abus Magomedov def. Cameron Rowston by technical submission (guillotine) at 1:44 of Round 1
- Grant Dawson def. Nurullo Aliev by unanimous decision (29-27 x3)
- Colby Thicknesse def. Asaf Chopurov by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Abubakar Vagaev def. Jacob Malkoun by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
- Daniel Santos def. Bolaji Oki by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
- Kody Steele def. Noah Gugnon by TKO (punches) at 3:54 of Round 1
- Iasmin Lucindo def. Nicolle Caliari by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
What do you think: has Volkanovski passed Jose Aldo as the greatest featherweight in UFC history? Let us know in the comments.
Read more:
- Jose Aldo would cut unbeaten Evloev after his first UFC loss
- Volkanovski vows to finish unbeaten Evloev at UFC 333
- Petr Yan beats Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333, retains title
