The mixed martial arts community breathed a collective sigh of relief following the conclusion of UFC 333. Sandwiched between a lacklustre stretch that included a widely panned UFC 332—a card frequently discussed as one of the weakest numbered events in recent promotional history—a pair of Apex Fight Night cards, and a somewhat underwhelming Edmonton event, UFC 333 arrived precisely when the fanbase needed it most. Delivering elite-level, high-stakes mixed martial arts featuring some of the defining talents of this generation, the event successfully scratched a competitive itch that had lingered for months.
Now that the dust has settled on a memorable night of fights, the MMA landscape is once again shifting toward the future. Examining the outcomes of the evening offers a clear lens into the next steps for the division’s biggest winners, beginning with a legendary featherweight who continues to defy the constraints of time.
Alexander Volkanovski
Alexander Volkanovski’s legacy was already firmly secured in the annals of the sport, yet the legendary featherweight somehow found a way to add another shimmering chapter to his storied career. With his latest victory, Volkanovski officially enters a rarified echelon of fighters who have managed to bridge eras, securing victories over the generation that came before him, his own contemporaries, and now, the emerging vanguard of the sport.
Rather than merely squeaking past an opponent, Volkanovski put on a masterclass. He dismantled and finished a 32-year-old undefeated fighter who had established himself as the clear number-one contender in the division—and he did it at the age of 38. To call such an achievement remarkable feels like a serious understatement, highlighting a rare combination of fight IQ, technical mastery, and athletic preservation.
As far as what lies ahead for Volkanovski, the matchmaking picture presents several fascinating paths. While rising threats such as Kevin Vallejos and Aljamain Sterling certainly have arguments to make within the crowded featherweight landscape, it is becoming increasingly clear that Jean Silva has emerged as the current front-runner for the next championship opportunity at 145 pounds. However, that trajectory could hit a detour if Volkanovski’s heavily discussed desire for a high-profile, double-retirement superfight against Justin Gaetjhe materializes instead. For now, the division waits with bated breath to see which direction the former champion chooses.
Petr Yan
To evaluate Petr Yan’s performance at UFC 333 is to appreciate the mastery of one of the sport’s most clinical technicians. How does a fighter solve the most unsolvable puzzle in the division not just once, but twice? To witness Yan look down the barrel of a definitive two-round deficit entering the championship rounds against arguably the most relentless, high-paced, and defensively sound force in the sport, only to systematically sweep the final three frames and retain his belt, was nothing short of breathtaking.
This was vintage Petr Yan in every sense of the word. The performance featured his trademark slow, calculating start where he gathers data, followed by a middle phase where his offense bursts into dynamic life, culminating in a championship stretch where he looked completely untouchable—briefly reclaiming his status as arguably the best fighter on the planet.
Looking at the bantamweight landscape, a pair of compelling rematches present themselves as logical next steps for the champion, though one path carries significantly more momentum. When factoring in the lingering controversy of their previous encounter, combined with the fact that their prior meeting was vastly more competitive and entertaining, Sean O’Malley holds a significant head start over Song Yadong for the next crack at Yan’s championship gold.
Lone’er Kavanagh
For young contender Lone’er Kavanagh, the road ahead carries the weight of both immense promise and hard-learned lessons. Just three months removed from a tough stoppage loss against Brandon Royval, stepping into the Octagon against a human bulldozer like Ramazan Temirov presented a deeply concerning stylistic matchup. Kavanagh had already proven that he possesses world-class talent, but he had also shown a vulnerability to momentary defensive lapses against elite competition.
Against an opponent like Temirov, those defensive lapses could easily spell disaster. Instead, Kavanagh answered the question marks in emphatic fashion, dispatching Temirov in a nearly flawless first-round performance that showcased his ceiling. While a matchup against former flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is not entirely out of the question given the rapid pace of the division, a more measured approach might serve his development best. Pitting Kavanagh against the loser of the upcoming bout between Horiguchi and Almabayev would allow the young prospect to continue fine-tuning his skills before fully plunging into the shark tank of the title picture.
Alexander Volkov
There is a certain irony in the current heavyweight picture that becomes impossible to ignore: Alexander Volkov quietly holds a deeply reasonable claim to being the baddest man on the planet. The veteran contender has put together an impressive run, going 7-1 in his last eight Octagon appearances dating back to 2022. The sole blemish on that stellar record is a very narrow, highly controversial split decision loss to Ciryl Gane, while his last uncontroversial defeat came at the hands of Tom Aspinall, who is currently sidelined from the division indefinitely.
At 38 years old, Volkov has evolved into a true student of the game, seemingly improving by a fraction of a percent every single time he steps under the bright lights. Given his current standing, momentum, and body of work, arguing that he deserves anything less than the heavyweight title shot he has spent years building toward would feel disingenuous to the integrity of the division.
Aaron Pico
After enduring a devastating setback in his long-awaited UFC debut, Aaron Pico has managed to steady the ship and completely recalibrate his promotional trajectory with a pair of hard-fought, high-level victories. Following a solid win over Patricio Pitbull, Pico followed it up at UFC 333 by besting Losene Keita. Just a few years ago, both of those matchups would have been heavily hyped as the absolute best possible featherweight bouts taking place outside the organizational banner of the UFC. To see Pico step into the Octagon and emerge victorious in both contests speaks volumes about his evolution as a mixed martial artist.
Though Pico flirted with the idea of pursuing a rematch against Lerone Murphy during his post-fight discussions, a slightly more gradual progression up the featherweight ladder still makes the most sense for his long-term growth. Pacing his ascent with a strategic matchup against a durable and dynamic test like Youssef Zalal appears to be the ideal next step as Pico continues to navigate the competitive waters of the UFC featherweight division.
