Russian and Dagestani fighters at UFC 333: who is on the Abu Dhabi card
From Evloev and Yan in the title fights to Kuniev and Magomedov further down, UFC 333 is packed with fighters from Russia and the Caucasus.
UFC 333 at Etihad Arena on Saturday 24 October has a strong Russian and North Caucasus presence, with fighters from Russia involved in both title fights. The last UFC card here, in July, was headlined by Russia's Magomed Ankalaev and also featured an all-Russian bout, Khaleej Times reported.
Movsar Evloev, the Russian featherweight who is 20-0, challenges Alexander Volkanovski in the main event. In the co-main, Russia's Petr Yan defends his bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili in a trilogy tied at one win each. Yan won his first UFC title on Fight Island in 2020, stopping Jose Aldo in the fifth round at UFC 251.
The heavyweight bout is all Russian. Moscow's Alexander Volkov, a former M-1 Global and Bellator champion, meets Rizvan Kuniev, who was born in Dagestan and fights out of Makhachkala. Sport24 reports the two have trained together, and Kuniev stopped Tyrell Fortune at Etihad Arena in July.
On the prelims, Azamat Murzakanov (16-1) faces Dominick Reyes after knocking out Aleksandar Rakic in the first round at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi in October 2025. Nikita Krylov, who has represented Russia in his last eight UFC fights, meets Chechen prospect Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev, who competes for Turkey. Dagestan-born Abus Magomedov, who represents Germany, faces Australia's Cam Rowston.
Central Asia is represented too. Uzbekistan's Ramazan Temirov meets Lone'er Kavanagh on the main card, and Tajikistan's unbeaten Nurullo Aliev faces Grant Dawson. Both Temirov and Aliev won at Etihad Arena in July, so they will not need directions.
UFC 333: Volkanovski vs EvloevSat 24 Oct · Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi See ticketsSource: UFC.com, Sport24: Volkov vs Kuniev, Sport24: Krylov vs Yakhyaev, Sport24: Magomedov vs Rowston, Wikipedia: Rizvan Kuniev, Sherdog: Azamat Murzakanov, Gulf News, CBS Sports: UFC 251, Khaleej Times
