Volkanovski and Evloev share calm first faceoff at UFC 333 press conference in Los Angeles

Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev came face-to-face for the first time at the UFC 333 opening press conference in Los Angeles on Friday, shaking hands and gesturing to the crowd in a composed and respectful exchange ahead of their October 24 featherweight title fight in Abu Dhabi.

Volkanovski enters the bout looking to make the second defence of his reclaimed 145-pound title, with a win set to further cement a career already considered Hall of Fame-worthy. For Evloev, who remains undefeated in MMA, it represents his first shot at UFC gold — a milestone he has built toward through an unblemished record inside the octagon.

The mutual respect between the two men carried a personal dimension: both fighters briefly trained together earlier in their careers. That shared history appeared to inform the tone of their press conference exchanges, which remained cordial throughout.

The co-main event at UFC 333 carries its own weight. Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili will meet in a bantamweight title trilogy bout that has been building since Dvalishvili took a decision from Yan in 2023. Yan responded in December of that year, winning a decision over Dvalishvili to claim the 135-pound belt. Their faceoff at the press conference was noticeably more charged than the main event staredown, though the tension remained controlled.

UFC 333 shapes up as one of the more compelling cards of the year, with two title fights carrying genuine personal stakes at the top of the bill.