Volkanovski targets Oliveira after UFC 333

Alexander Volkanovski defeated Movsar Evloev in two rounds at UFC 333 on October 25, 2026, ending Evloev's undefeated record. The victory secured the featherweight title for Volkanovski and set the stage for a potential crossover into the lightweight division.

Volkanovski has lost two of his three fights at lightweight. A bout with Charles Oliveira at the BMF title could validate him as a serious contender at 155 pounds. Oliveira is scheduled to face Diego Lopes at UFC 335 in December to defend that belt.

If Oliveira wins in December, the two fighters would meet in 2027. The timing aligns with the peak of both careers. Volkanovski told ESPN in September he did not want to jump the line to fight Justin Gaethje, especially with Arman Tsarukyan available as a title challenger. A BMF title fight would provide a clear path to the 155-pound belt.

Movsar Evloev, now 1-1 in title contention after this loss, faces a difficult road back. His first loss came against the reigning champion. Pat Sabatini, who holds a 9-2 record in the UFC, is the most logical next opponent for Evloev. Steve Garcia, coming off a loss to Lopes in June, is another option.

Petr Yan closed his trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision at the same event. The bantamweight champion now looks to Sean O'Malley for his next fight. O'Malley holds a controversial victory over Yan from 2022. Since losing to Dvalishvili in 2024 and 2025, O'Malley has won two fights, including a knockout of Aiemann Zahabi.

Song Yadong remains a strong contender for a title shot after defeating O'Malley in January. However, the Yan versus O'Malley matchup offers a compelling narrative for a rematch. Dvalishvili, coming off back-to-back losses, is expected to face Umar Nurmagomedov next. Their first fight at UFC 311 in January 2025 was rated fight of the night. Nurmagomedov likely wants to fight before Ramadan begins in February.

Aaron Pico defeated Patricio Pitbull in April and is positioned for a fight with Jean Silva. Silva is moving to lightweight to face Oliveira in December. A bout between Pico and Silva would be a high-risk matchup for Pico, who has suffered several devastating finishes in his career. Youssef Zalal, 30, offers a wild card option for Pico. Zalal won five consecutive fights before losing to Aljamain Sterling in April.

The results at UFC 333 have clarified the paths for the top contenders in both the featherweight and bantamweight divisions. The matchups set for the coming months will determine which fighters secure title opportunities and which must rebuild their records.