cap: Alexander Volkanovski (right) competes against Movsar Evloev, during the UFC Fight Night at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Sunday. (AFP-Yonhap) / AFP)
cap: Alexander Volkanovski (right) competes against Movsar Evloev, during the UFC Fight Night at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Sunday. (AFP-Yonhap) / AFP)

Australian Alexander Volkanovski retained his UFC featherweight title with a second-round technical knockout of Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on Saturday, ending the Russian's 20-fight unbeaten professional run and keeping a promise to his wife.

A thunderous combination sent Evloev backing up against the cage and Volkanovski followed him to the canvas before landing a series of unanswered blows that caused referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight with six seconds remaining in the round.

"It feels good to get a finish -- I actually promised the missus, it was our wedding anniversary on Wednesday, I promised her a quick one so she wasn't stressing on the sideline, so there you go," he said with a grin in his post-fight interview.

The 38-year-old two-time champion got through the first round without suffering much damage and began to make his presence felt with precise striking in the second, briefly sending Evloev to the canvas with a glancing blow to his temple.

Evloev, 32, did his best to leverage his superior grappling but had no answer to Volkanovski's shrewd fighting style, honed through a string of title-fight performances that have led pundits to consider him the greatest featherweight of all time.

"I feel the love ... thank you so much. I really do appreciate it, I feel it from everyone, from the UFC staff, the fighters, every fan. The love that I get is just incredible, and I'm so thankful for it, so thank you all," he said.

In the co-main event at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Russia's Petr Yan retained his bantamweight crown with a unanimous decision over Georgian Merab Dvalishvili in a battle fought at a frenetic pace from the opening bell.

The 33-year-old Yan, who took the belt from Dvalishvili by unanimous decision in December 2025, withstood a stream of takedown attempts, while his piston-like punches left his opponent with several red welts on his face at the end of the fight.

Facing Yan for the third time in his UFC career, Dvalishvili repeatedly bounced back after shots to the body and head, but Yan kept his composure and picked him off, winning 48-47 on all three judges' scorecards. (Reuters)