UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi last weekend delivered a rare pairing of title fights that put pound-for-pound talent on full display. Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan both defended their belts, and the results have reshaped the upper part of the latest CBS Sports rankings.
In the main event, the 38-year-old Volkanovski backed up his pre-fight prediction by stopping unbeaten Movsar Evloev inside two rounds. The two-time featherweight champion has now won three straight since back-to-back stoppage losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. The win moved him past Jose Aldo for the most featherweight title wins in UFC history and tied Aldo's company mark for 145-pound title defenses. Volkanovski is now 15-1 in the UFC at featherweight.
The co-main event told two different stories. Bantamweight champion Yan faced Merab Dvalishvili for the third time, and the challenger won the first two rounds with relentless pace and wrestling. Dvalishvili attempted 58 takedowns, a new UFC record for a single fight and one that broke his own mark. Yan then took over, using calm adjustments, precise striking and cage awareness to win the last three rounds and the unanimous decision.
Yan, 33, has now neutralized the cardio and wrestling that overwhelmed the division's elite until their rematch last December. He lost his title in 2020 and then dropped three of his next four fights. Since then he has improved nearly every part of his game, and he has a strong case as the most accomplished bantamweight champion in UFC history. Dvalishvili, 35, looked to be in the best shape of his career, and CBS Sports argues he would have beaten any other 135-pounder in the world that night.
In the updated men's pound-for-pound rankings, Makhachev remains No. 1. He broke Anderson Silva's record at UFC 330 in August with a 17th consecutive UFC win, a unanimous decision over Ian Machado Garry. Volkanovski holds at No. 2, and Yan climbs one spot to No. 3. Flyweight champion Joshua Van, 24, slips to No. 4. Middleweight champion Sean Strickland stays fifth after regaining his title in May with a split decision over Khamzat Chimaev, and lightweight champion Justin Gaethje stays sixth after upsetting Topuria at the White House in June.
Topuria holds No. 7. Arman Tsarukyan rises one place to No. 9..
Correction to the previous paragraph: Arman Tsarukyan moves up to No. 8 after his sixth straight win, a first-round knockout of Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in September. Dvalishvili drops from No. 8 to No. 9 despite his performance. Charles Oliveira enters at No. 10 after winning the BMF title from Max Holloway at UFC 326 in March. Alex Pereira dropped out of the list.
Valentina Shevchenko tops the women's list, though she has vacated her flyweight title because of injuries and is approaching a year without a fight. Kayla Harrison is second. Her bout with Amanda Nunes was postponed in January after a neck injury and surgery, and it is now set for UFC 334 in November. Natalia Silva rises from fifth to third after winning the vacant flyweight title by decision over Wang Cong at UFC 332 in October.
Zhang Weili, who has not fought since her November 2025 loss to Shevchenko, is fourth and has not said which division she will return to. Strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern is fifth after a unanimous decision over Gillian Robertson at UFC 330 in August.
