Abu Dhabi stacks two title fights for UFC 333

Booking season heated up with a reported two-belt UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, a returning UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, and a guaranteed title shot dangled in front of Arman Tsarukyan. On the injury front, Dakota Ditcheva broke both hands again and Quillan Salkilld left his breakout win with a tweaked knee — as fight week for Makhachev vs. Garry finally opened in Philadelphia.

Yan-Dvalishvili trilogy, Volkanovski-Evloev reported for two-belt UFC 333

Per a report from Red Fury MMA, UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi will feature two title fights. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defends against undefeated No. 1 contender Movsar Evloev in the main event, while bantamweight champ Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili complete their trilogy in the co-main. Merab took the first meeting by decision in 2023; Yan won the belt back in their December rematch. The UFC has not officially announced either bout.

Why it matters: Evloev finally cashes in years of contender purgatory, and a Yan-Merab rubber match settles one of the best 135-pound rivalries going. Two belts on one card gives the second October pay-per-view real weight.

Dana White: Tsarukyan promised title shot if he beats Ruffy at UFC 331

Dana White confirmed that Arman Tsarukyan's original UFC 331 opponent 'fell out' before the Mauricio Ruffy matchup was booked, without naming Charles Oliveira, whose planned rematch collapsed after the death of teammate Allan Nascimento. Per Ariel Helwani, Tsarukyan was told by UFC brass he gets the next crack at champion Justin Gaethje if he beats the No. 10-ranked Ruffy on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles. The card is headlined by the Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja flyweight rematch.

Why it matters: Beating a No. 10 contender shouldn't earn a title shot, but the UFC is rewarding Tsarukyan for absorbing a late opponent swap — putting the lightweight title picture on hold behind one more eliminator.

UFC returns to Salt Lake City for Oct. 3 UFC 332, Gautier-Kopylov first booking

The UFC set UFC 332 for Oct. 3 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, its first Utah card since UFC 307 in 2024 and one of two numbered events in October alongside UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. Neither has a headliner yet. The first confirmed bout pairs undefeated Cameroonian middleweight prospect Ateba Gautier (5-0 UFC) with formerly ranked veteran Roman Kopylov — the toughest test yet for the 24-year-old power-puncher. Johnny Walker's heavyweight debut is also reportedly slated for the card.

Why it matters: Kopylov is a genuine gatekeeper after a thin strength of schedule, and a win would vault 'Mini Ngannou' toward the middleweight top 15. Two numbered cards in one month gives the fall schedule real depth.

Ditcheva broke both hands in PFL New York win, faces another long layoff

Dakota Ditcheva (16-0) revealed on her YouTube channel that she broke both hands during her unanimous-decision win over Denise Kielholtz at PFL New York, her first fight in over a year. She said she felt it early in the second round and hid it from her corner. The damage stems from a fracture she declined to have surgically repaired after breaking both hands against Sumiko Inaba in 2025. She's back in splints awaiting a surgical decision and expects to be sidelined, delaying an anticipated bout with Liz Carmouche; she also floated a boxing crossover under MVP.

Why it matters: The PFL's brightest women's star can't stay healthy, and losing her again — with Usman Nurmagomedov also headed for free agency — thins an already shallow marquee roster.

Rockhold vs. Pyfer set for RAF 13 wrestling card after Philly snub

Real American Freestyle booked former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold against current UFC contender Joe Pyfer in a catchweight wrestling match at RAF 13 on Sept. 19 in Miami. Rockhold, 41, is 0-1 in the promotion after losing to Colby Covington in January; Pyfer, riding a four-fight UFC streak capped by his March KO of Israel Adesanya, missed a UFC 330 homecoming in Philadelphia when a bout never materialized. RAF 13 is headlined by Covington vs. Belal Muhammad.

Why it matters: Pyfer keeping active on a wrestling mat rather than in the Octagon underscores the UFC 330 matchmaking gripes from Philadelphia-based fighters. For RAF, banking a top-15 UFC name is a real credibility get.

Salkilld may have tweaked knee in Gamrot win, eyes MSG date with Saint-Denis

A day after submitting Mateusz Gamrot in the first round of his UFC Vegas 120 main event, Quillan Salkilld said he 'heard a little pop' in his knee during an early wrestling exchange and needs it checked before booking anything. The Australian, now 6-0 in the UFC and closing on the lightweight top five, said he wants a fight that lifts him toward the top and floated Benoit Saint-Denis at November's Madison Square Garden card, reasoning that BSD took little damage in his 52-second loss to Paddy Pimblett.

Why it matters: Salkilld is the division's hottest riser, but a serious knee issue could stall a run built on three 2026 finishes. A clash with the equally violent Saint-Denis is exactly the kind of top-10 test that would confirm the hype.

Makhachev-Garry fight week opens with champ a heavy favorite in Philly

Fight week began for UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, where Islam Makhachev makes the first defense of his welterweight belt against Ian Machado Garry. Makhachev rides a 16-fight win streak that ties Anderson Silva's UFC record; Garry, 17-1 with his only loss to the sidelined Shavkat Rakhmonov, vowed to 'put a hole' in the champion's head. Mackenzie Dern defends the strawweight title against Gillian Robertson in the co-main. Fighters remain split, with Fighting Nerds teammates Jean Silva and Caio Borralho openly disagreeing on the pick.

Why it matters: After Topuria, Pereira and Chimaev all fell in 2026, the sport's last pound-for-pound king enters as the safe bet — but an upset would complete the year's carnage at the top.

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