UFC 333 Weigh-Ins Set Both Title Fights, Caliari Misses by 4.5 Pounds
Both UFC 333 championship bouts are official after Friday weigh-ins in Abu Dhabi, with Nicolle Caliari the only fighter to miss weight.
Both championship fights are locked in for UFC 333 after all but one fighter made weight Friday in Abu Dhabi.
Alexander Volkanovski weighed in at 144.5 pounds and Movsar Evloev hit the featherweight limit at 145 for Saturday's headliner at Etihad Arena, per Sherdog. Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against the undefeated Russian in what figures to be one of the toughest tests of his reign.
The co-main event is also official. Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili both hit 135 pounds for their bantamweight trilogy. Yan took the belt from Dvalishvili at UFC 323 by unanimous decision, evening the series after Merab's dominant win in 2023. Dvalishvili has said he has a different approach planned for the rubber match. He told MMA Sucka he is not focused on takedowns this time and promised "domination, but different."
The only miss came from Nicolle Caliari, who stepped on the scales at 120.5 pounds for a women's strawweight bout against Iasmin Lucindo. That is 4.5 pounds over the 116-pound limit. The fight will proceed with Caliari forfeiting a percentage of her purse.
Every other fighter on the 14-fight card made weight, including heavyweights Rizvan Kuniev (265) and Alexander Volkov (256). The card airs Saturday on Paramount+ from Etihad Arena.
I'm a few miles from the Strip, and this might be the best card the UFC has put together since they moved to Paramount+. Two title fights, both with real stakes. Volk vs. Evloev is as close to a pick-em as it gets at 145. Evloev hasn't lost, but Volkanovski has been here before and knows how to take a guy's best stuff and turn the fight his way.
The one I'm watching closest is Yan vs. Merab 3. Merab smothered Yan the first time. Yan made adjustments and took his belt back. Now Merab says he's ditching the wrestling-heavy plan. That's a bold gamble when the guy across from you just proved he can beat your Plan A. If Merab tries to stand and trade, Yan's hands could end this early.
Caliari missing weight by 4.5 pounds is the kind of thing that should come with consequences beyond a pay cut. That's not a rough last-hour miss. That's showing up unprepared.
KEEP TALKING FIGHTS.
MMAMerab Dvalishvili Admits He Didn't Change Anything for Yan Loss, Vows Smarter Approach
BanterDana White Didn't Recognize Alexander Volkov at UFC 333 Presser, Then Claimed He Knew All Along
MMAPetr Yan and Sean O'Malley Both Want the Rematch After UFC 333
MMA