UFC 333 predictions: The National picks Volkanovski and Dvalishvili
The Abu Dhabi paper's picks for the five main card fights at Etihad Arena, and the reasons behind them.
The National has published its picks for the UFC 333 main card, and it expects both title fights to end with Dvalishvili and Volkanovski holding belts. For the main event it picks Alexander Volkanovski on the scorecards, citing his striking edge and experience: this is his sixth featherweight title defence. It gives Movsar Evloev the grappling edge, noting how he dominated Aljamain Sterling.
In the co-main event the paper picks Merab Dvalishvili to win back the bantamweight title. Yan beat him in December with body shots and strong takedown defence, but Dvalishvili fought four times in 2025 and admitted that taking the Yan fight two months after beating Corey Sandhagen was a mistake. The longer break, the paper argues, should leave him fresher. It is Yan's first defence.
At flyweight it picks Ramazan Temirov by knockout over Lone'er Kavanagh. Temirov knocked out Steve Erceg in Abu Dhabi in July, his 13th first-round knockout, while Kavanagh, who has beaten Brandon Moreno, is coming off a late submission loss to Brandon Royval.
At heavyweight the pick is Alexander Volkov by decision over Rizvan Kuniev, a performance it says Volkov needs to press for a shot at champion Ciryl Gane. At featherweight it expects Losene Keita, the short-notice replacement for Arnold Allen, to produce another highlight-reel knockout against Aaron Pico.
UFC 333 is at Etihad Arena on Saturday 24 October. Results from Abu Dhabi will follow after the event.
UFC 333: Volkanovski vs EvloevSat 24 Oct · Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi See ticketsSource: The National
