Alexander Volkanovski stops Movsar Evloev in 2nd round to retain featherweight title at UFC 333

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Alexander Volkanovski stopped previously unbeaten Movsar Evloev at 4:54 of the second round Saturday to retain his featherweight championship at UFC 333.

The 38-year-old Australian overwhelmed Evloev with punches late in the round, sending the challenger to the canvas before the referee intervened with 6 seconds remaining.

Volkanovski (29-4) earned his ninth UFC featherweight title-fight win, tying Jose Aldo for the most in division history. Evloev (20-1) lost for the first time in 11 UFC appearances.

“I’m just glad that I had a No. 1 contender to fight, a clear one,” Volkanovski said.

Already the oldest fighter to win and defend the UFC featherweight championship, Volkanovski extended his success during his second reign atop the division. He improved to 16-3 in UFC, with all six of his stoppage victories coming by knockout or technical knockout.

Despite giving up size to the challenger, Volkanovski pressed the action early and repeatedly regained his footing after first-round takedowns. Evloev struggled to turn those opportunities into sustained control.

Volkanovski developed swelling and a cut beneath his left eye but continued finding openings with his punches. A right hand staggered Evloev in the second round, and Volkanovski followed with a barrage that left the challenger covering up on the canvas.

Evloev won each of his first 10 UFC appearances by decision, becoming the first fighter in promotion history to start his career with that many decision wins.

Afterward, Volkanovski welcomed more challengers in the division and said he wanted to keep competing.

“You got a lot of these guys that are trying to get that No. 1 spot,” Volkanovski said. “They’re pushing for it, and that’s what I like to see.”

In the co-main event, Petr Yan retained his bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili.

Yan (21-5) turned back the former champion, who fell to 21-6.

Yan is in his second reign as bantamweight champion. Dvalishvili entered with a UFC-record 119 takedowns, including a title-fight record 20 against Cory Sandhagen.

Sixth-ranked flyweight Lone’er Kavanagh (11-2) stopped No. 10 Ramazan Temirov (20-3) at 4:28 of the first round. Kavanagh caught the advancing Temirov with a left uppercut, then followed with a flurry of punches to finish the bout.

Temirov suffered his first UFC loss after winning his first three appearances with the promotion.

Second-ranked heavyweight Alexander Volkov (41-11) celebrated his 38th birthday with a unanimous decision over No. 7 Rizvan Kuniev (15-4-1, one no-contest), then pleaded for a championship opportunity.

“What should I do to get a title shot? Answer me, please,” Volkov said.

The former Bellator heavyweight champion earned his 15th victory in 20 UFC appearances.

In a featherweight bout, No. 11 Aaron Pico (15-5) stopped Losene Keita (17-3) at 1:14 of the first round. Pico dropped Keita with a straight right hand before finishing him with a flurry of punches.

See AP’s full sports coverage here

Russia's Rizvan Kuniev, left, punches Alexander Volkov during a heavyweight bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Russia's Alexander Volkov, left, punches Rizvan Kuniev during a heavyweight bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Lone'er Kavanagh of Britain, left, punches Uzbekistan's Ramazan Temirov, during flyweight bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Russia's Petr Yan, left, punches Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia during the Bantamweight title bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Russia's Petr Yan, right, celebrates with his fans after beating Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia to win the Bantamweight title bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Malte Amundsen scored two goals. his first career multi-goal game in MLS, Gonzalo Tapia and Brooks Lennon each added a goal, and the Columbus Crew beat Toronto FC 4-1 on Saturday.

The Crew (11-15-5), who have won three consecutive games and five of their last six, have 38 points this season, two ahead of Toronto and the New York Red Bulls (who host Miami later Saturday) for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot.

Dylan Chambost had three assists for Columbus. Patrick Schulte had five saves.

Sekou Bangoura was shown his second yellow card in the 70th minute and the Crew played a man down the rest of the way.

Dániel Sallói scored in the 69th minute and Josh Sargent added a goal in the 81st for Toronto (8-10-12).

Mohamed Farsi ran onto a ball, played ahead by Santiago Rodriguez, and tapped a first-touch cross to Tapia for the tap-in finish into a wide-open net in the 16th minute.

Amundsen headed home a corner kick played into the area by Chambost to make it 2-0 in the 21st and then redirected a cross played by Chambost into the net to give the Crew a 3-0 lead in the 48th.

Luka Gavran had two saves for Toronto.

Nashville: Hosts Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Montreal: Plays Wednesday at Charlotte.

See AP’s full MLS coverage here

Toronto FC's Josh Sargent, left, kicks the ball away from Columbus Crew's Malte Amundsen during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Columbus Crew's Sekou Bangoura, center, keeps the ball away from Toronto FC's Jonathan Osorio, left, and Josh Sargent during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Toronto FC's Lewis Morgan, right, looks for an open shot as Columbus Crew's Mohamed Farsi defends during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Columbus Crew players celebrate their goal against Toronto FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)