Volkanovski eyes Oliveira, Yan targets O'Malley after UFC 333

Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev in two rounds at UFC 333 on Saturday. The victory secures his title, but his next opponent may not be in his current weight class. ESPN analysis suggests Volkanovski could face Charles Oliveira in 2027, a matchup that would test his standing at lightweight.

Volkanovski holds a 2-1 record against Oliveira, with the latter two losses occurring at 155 pounds. He told ESPN in September that he did not want to jump the lightweight title line ahead of Justin Gaethje, especially with Arman Tsarukyan also in the picture. A fight for Oliveira's BMF title in December would position the winner as a legitimate contender for the UFC lightweight belt.

Bantamweight champion Petr Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision to complete their trilogy. Yan’s next likely opponent is Sean O'Malley, who holds a controversial decision victory over Yan from 2022. O'Malley has gone 2-0 since his losses to Dvalishvili, beating Song Yadong and Aiemann Zahabi. Song, who knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov in June, presents a more explosive alternative for a future title shot.

Dvalishvili, coming off his second straight loss, is expected to fight Umar Nurmagomedov. Their first bout in January 2025 ended in a Dvalishvili win despite injuries for both fighters. Nurmagomedov is likely to return before the Ramadan holiday begins in February 2027. Payton Talbott is also a candidate for a big jump in competition against the former champion.

Movsar Evloev, now with his first loss, may face Pat Sabatini as a gatekeeper fight. Sabatini holds a 9-2 record in the UFC. Evloev described his future at featherweight as uncertain, saying he might try again. Steve Garcia, who lost to Diego Lopes in June, is another option for Evloev’s next bout.

Aaron Pico is positioned to face Jean Silva, a matchup suggested after Pico defeated Patricio Pitbull in April. Silva’s move to lightweight to fight Oliveira in December opens this door. Youssef Zalal, who went 0-3 early in his UFC career before a five-fight winning streak, is a wildcard option for Pico.

UFC 335 is scheduled for December, featuring Oliveira against Diego Lopes for the BMF title. The outcome of that fight will influence Volkanovski’s path. Gaethje’s retirement status remains undecided following his June victory in the White House. Tsarukyan has been told by the UFC he is next in line for the lightweight title if Gaethje steps aside.