Volkanovski Targets Oliveira After Two Round Stoppage

Alexander Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev in the second round at UFC 333 on October 25 to retain his featherweight title. The victory clears a path for the champion to challenge Charles Oliveira in the lightweight division. ESPN analysts suggest a bout with Oliveira, who defends the BMF title in December, represents the logical next step for Volkanovski. Such a fight would occur in 2027 and would position Volkanovski as a serious contender for the 155 pound belt. A wildcard option remains a direct title shot against Arman Tsarukyan if Justin Gaethje retires after his June victory at the White House.

Petr Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision to conclude their trilogy. The result secures Yan's bantamweight championship and sets up a potential rematch with Sean O'Malley. O'Malley holds a controversial 2022 win over Yan and has posted two wins since his 2025 loss to Dvalishvili. Analysts identify O'Malley as the strongest available challenger, though Song Yadong presents an alternative due to his explosive style. Yan faces a choice between a strategic chess match against O'Malley or a high power matchup against Song.

Dvalishvili now seeks a redemption fight following his second consecutive loss. The most immediate candidate is Umar Nurmagomedov, with whom he shares genuine heat. Their previous encounter at UFC 311 in January 2025 resulted in a fight of the night award. Both fighters are coming off losses, a factor the UFC often weighs in matchmaking. Nurmagomedov is expected to return by January to avoid a break during Ramadan in February. Payton Talbott offers a wild card option as a rising contender seeking a shortcut to a title shot.

The fight card also produced a clear winner in Aaron Pico, who defeated Patricio Pitbull in April. Pico is poised to face Jean Silva in a high risk matchup. Silva provides a significant jump in competition for Pico, who has shown immense potential but has suffered devastating finishes in the past. This bout would serve as a test of Pico's ability to handle top tier opposition. Youssef Zalal, who lost to Aljamain Sterling in April, remains another option for Pico, representing a clash between two fighters with unrealized potential.

Volkanovski told ESPN in September that he did not want to jump the lightweight line to fight Gaethje while Tsarukyan was a clear challenger. The BMF title angle adds context to the potential Oliveira fight. Evloev described his future at 145 pounds as a possibility of trying again, a comment analysts attributed to English being his second language. He now occupies the gatekeeper position in the featherweight division. Pat Sabatini, who holds a 9-2 record in the UFC, is the most obvious name to challenge Evloev next. Steve Garcia, who lost to Diego Lopes in June, remains another candidate for that role.