{"id":900708,"date":"2026-09-18T17:48:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T17:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/900708\/"},"modified":"2026-09-18T17:48:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T17:48:15","slug":"ufc-333-main-card-fight-reportedly-hit-with-major-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/900708\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC 333 Main Card Fight Reportedly Hit With Major Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

The main card opener for UFC 333 has reportedly undergone a major change just over a month out from the event. <\/p>\n

Scheduled to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE on October 24, UFC 333 is headlined by a highly-anticipated featherweight title bout between the division\u2019s reigning titleholder Alexander Volkanovski and undefeated challenger Movsar Evloev<\/a>. <\/p>\n

UFC gold will also be on the line in the co-main event, as Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili are set to meet in a trilogy bout after Yan took the bantamweight belt from Dvalishvili at UFC 323.<\/p>\n

Arnold Allen Out of UFC 333 Fight With Aaron Pico<\/p>\n

The UFC 333 main card also includes a huge flyweight clash between Lone\u2019er Kavanagh and Ramazan Temirov and a heavyweight bout that features Alexander Volkov and Rizvan Kuniev, which could see the winner earn their first UFC title shot. <\/p>\n

\"Alexander<\/p>\n

Alexander Volkov (red gloves) fights Waldo Cortes-Acosta (blue gloves) during UFC 328 at Prudential Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

The five-fight main card was also supposed to open with Arnold Allen taking on Aaron Pico in a featherweight matchup, but yesterday RMC Sport Combat<\/a> reported that Allen has unfortunately withdrawn from the matchup. <\/p>\n

\"Arnold<\/p>\n

Arnold Allen (red gloves) fights Jean Silva (blue gloves) during UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

A teaser posted by UFC featherweight contender Losene Keita<\/a> kicked off speculation that he might be in line to replace Allen, and today MMA Fighting<\/a> confirmed that \u201cBlack Panther\u201d will now face Pico at UFC 333. <\/p>\n

Losene Keita Gets Huge Short-Notice Fight After Stunning UFC Paris Knockout<\/p>\n

A former two-division titleholder with Oktagon MMA<\/a>, Keita joined the UFC to considerable fanfare last year but pulled out of his scheduled debut against Patricio Pitbull after issues with his weight cut.<\/p>\n

\"Nathaniel<\/p>\n

Nathaniel Wood (red gloves) fights Losene Keita (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Keita returned in March to make his first Octagon appearance at UFC London, where the 28-year-old dropped a split decision to Nathaniel Wood in the first non-injury loss of his MMA career.<\/p>\n

\"Losene<\/p>\n

Losene Keita (red gloves) fights Muhammad Naimov (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Undeterred by that setback, Keita entered the cage earlier this month at UFC Paris and brutally knocked out Muhammad Naimov<\/a> to formally introduce himself to UFC fans and secure a \u201cPerformance of the Night\u2019 bonus in the process.<\/p>\n

Ex-Bellator Standout Aaron Pico Also Coming Off First UFC Victory<\/p>\n

\u201cBlack Panther\u201d is now set for a huge opportunity at UFC 333, as Pico is currently sitting at #13 in the media rankings and #12 in the Meta AI rankings for the ufc featherweight division. <\/p>\n

\"Aaron<\/p>\n

Aaron Pico during weigh-ins for UFC 319 at Radius Chicago. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

The former Bellator star also joined the UFC last year but found himself on the wrong end of a sensational highlight when Lerone Murphy knocked him out with a spinning elbow<\/a> in the opening round of their UFC 319 fight. <\/p>\n

\"Lerone<\/p>\n

Lerone Murphy (red gloves) fights Aaron Pico (blue gloves) during UFC 319 at United Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Pico met fellow Bellator veteran Patricio Pitbull at UFC 327 in April and got his hand raised via unanimous decision, which set the American up for a chance to climb the featherweight rankings with his originally-scheduled fight against Allen. <\/p>\n

\"Patricio<\/p>\n

Patricio Pitbull (red gloves) fights Aaron Pico (blue gloves) during UFC 327 at Kaseya Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

With just over a month to go until the event, UFC 333 only has nine confirmed fights and still has room to add several more bouts over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

UFC 333 Fight Card<\/p>\n

Main Event: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev \u2013 For the UFC Featherweight Championship<\/p>\n

Co-Main Event: Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili 3 \u2013 For the Men\u2019s UFC Bantamweight Championship<\/p>\n

Lone\u2019er Kavanagh vs. Ramazan Temirov<\/p>\n

Alexander Volkov vs. Rizvan Kuniev<\/p>\n

Aaron Pico vs. Losene Keita<\/p>\n

Dominick Reyes vs. Azamat Murzakanov<\/p>\n

Abus Magomedov vs. Cam Rowston<\/p>\n

Nikita Krylov vs. Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev<\/p>\n

Grant Dawson vs. Nurullo Aliev<\/p>\n

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