Volkanovski Targets Oliveira, Yan Sets O'Malley Rematch After UFC 333

Alexander Volkanovski is moving toward a fight with Charles Oliveira, and Petr Yan is setting up a rematch with Sean O'Malley. Both men won their titles on the UFC 333 main card, but their next steps point in opposite directions. The decisions reflect the current state of the featherweight and bantamweight divisions, where the champions are looking to reestablish dominance against proven competitors.

Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev in the second round to keep his featherweight belt. Evloev entered the fight unbeaten, but Volkanovski ended that streak quickly. The win sets up a path for Volkanovski to return to the lightweight division, where he has lost two of his three career UFC fights. His stated preference is for a bout with Oliveira, provided Oliveira wins his December title fight against Diego Lopes at UFC 335.

Oliveira and Lopes are both established names in the sport. A fight between Volkanovski and Oliveira would serve as a test of the BMF belt's legitimacy. Volkanovski told ESPN in September that he did not want to jump the line at lightweight to face Justin Gaethje, especially with Arman Tsarukyan waiting in line. A BMF bout would allow Volkanovski to prove he belongs in the lightweight title picture without taking a shortcut.

Yan won his trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. The fight ended a long rivalry between the two men, who have now met three times. Yan's next move is a rematch with O'Malley, who holds a controversial victory over Yan from 2022. O'Malley has won his last two fights, including a knockout of Aiemann Zahabi and a close decision over Song Yadong.

The O'Malley rematch is the biggest available fight in the bantamweight division. O'Malley's case for a title shot is strong, given his prior win over Yan and his recent form. Song Yadong also has a strong claim, having beaten O'Malley in January. However, the history between Yan and O'Malley makes that the most logical next step for the champion.

Dvalishvili is next in line for a fight with Umar Nurmagomedov. The two men have a genuine history, having met in January 2025 in a fight that was named fight of the night. Nurmagomedov broke his hand early in that bout, and Dvalishvili fought through injuries during training camp. Both fighters are now coming off losses, which makes a rematch a likely choice for the UFC. Nurmagomedov is expected to be ready to fight by January, before Ramadan begins in February.

On the featherweight side, Evloev is now in a difficult position. He has lost his first fight of his career and is no longer the clear top contender. The most likely next opponent for him is Pat Sabatini, who is 9-2 in the UFC. Sabatini is the most obvious name in the group of fighters waiting for a title shot. Steve Garcia is another option, coming off a loss to Lopes in June.

Aaron Pico is also looking for his next fight. The recommendation is for him to face Jean Silva. Silva is a big step up in the rankings, but it is a bigger fight for Silva than for Pico. Pico has shown high potential throughout his career, but he has suffered from devastating finishes. A bout with Silva would be a major test for Pico and could define his place in the division.