Petr Yan and Movsar Evloev Sends Warning to Merab Dvalishvili and Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333 Presser

UFC 333 pre-fight press conference went ahead without any problems or confrontations. Both champions and challengers kept things professional although major predictions came from Petr Yan and Movsar Evloev. Alexander Volkanovski and Merab Dvalishvili has their hands full at the moment.

Volkanovski is 38 years of age and may no longer be in his prime. Nevertheless, he wanted to test himself against the undefeated Evloev. To that end, the featherweight champion wanted Evloev to spam takedowns as Volk intended to keep the fight on the feet.

To take things one step further, Volk stated that taking him down would not mean keeping him on the mat. Evloev replied that he could solve every problem that Volkanovski brought to the table at UFC 333 this weekend.

I can solve everything he brings… Striking, okay no problem. If you want to be knocked out, I’ll do that. But when he said I cannot take him down or something else, with all due to respect to the champ, I can do anything I want.

Movsar Evloev via UFC 333 pre-fight presser

Alexander Volkanovski tells Movsar Evloev to "try to take me down" at #UFC333. Evloev: "If you want to be knocked out, I will do that." (via @UFC) https://t.co/MYa2TK8CXY

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 22, 2026

Volkanovski previously stated that Evloev could not keep him down even if the Russian could land a takedown. Only Islam Makhachev has kept Volk down in the UFC and that too by locking up the featherweight champion’s back. Evloev has yet to do that to someone in the UFC.

Meanwhile, coach of Evloev warned Volkanovski that he could match up to the pace of the Russian contender. It remains to be seen if Evloev can back up his word this weekend and become only the fifth featherweight champion in UFC history.

Though Volk and Evloev kept things professional when trying to hype up their bout, Yan and Dvalishvili didn’t hold back.

Petr Yan threatens to break Merab Dvalishvili’s nose and the challenger fires back

Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili is among the top two rivalry in the bantamweight division alongside Urijah Faber vs Dominic Cruz. Yan and Dvalishvili are two of the best bantamweight fighters in the 2020s. As such, their trilogy bout has much on the line.

During the UFC 333 pre-fight press conference, the champion warned Dvalishvili that he would break his nose again.

Today, I have big goal. I want to smash this guy. I want to defend my title… I always fight with a plan. My team puts together a plan. We are surgical; we take everything apart. This machine is going to be taken apart, one detail at a time. But, trust me, I will come here, and I will break his nose one more time!

Petr Yan via UFC 333 pre-fight presser

Petr Yan vows to destroy Merab Dvalishvili in their #UFC333 trilogy bout. "This machine is going to be taken apart one detail at a time. I will break his nose one more time." (via @UFC) https://t.co/8hJ1sz5Ni6

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 22, 2026

The Georgian fighter needed a surgery after last fight in December of 2025. However, he opted against that to compete in a trilogy bout against Yan.

When ‘The Machine’ wrestled Frankie Edgar in RAF, his broken nose resurfaced again. As such, he is in danger against a crisp boxer like Yan at UFC 333.

Nevertheless, Dvalishvili is confident about winning the trilogy bout. He also told Yan that he would overwhelm the Russian inside the octagon this weekend when they faced off after the press conference.

Merab Dvalishvili cannot be friends with Petr Yan because of the champion’s behavior

After competing against each other for more than one fight, UFC fighters tend to be friendly. However, Dvalishvili will not become friends with Yan at any cost.

This is because of how Yan acted in the past after their rematch at UFC 323. When the Georgian fighter sat down with Daniel Cormier for an interview, he explained his reasoning not to befriend the current bantamweight champion.

👀 Merab Dvalishvili says he would never be friends with Petr Yan. "If I were to be friends with him? I don’t think so. He might be a good person to his family and friends, but I don’t respect his friends. Then there’s another story. After the fight, there was a tweet where he mentioned me and said ‘my friend’. I also responded with ‘my friend’. Journalists started asking, "Are you guys friends now?" And he said, "No, that wasn’t me. That was my manager. What kind of man lets his manager tweet or make a post on his behalf." via: @dc_mma

— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) October 21, 2026

The stakes are high as Dvalishvili may never get to fight for a title again if he loses as long as Yan remains the champion. With momentum on Yan’s side, it remains to be seen what the Georgian fighter can do at UFC 333.

Also Read:

• Alexander Volkanovski Hints at Potential Retirement If UFC 333 Title Defense Goes “Terribly Wrong”
• Merab Dvalishvili Reveals Smart Plan to Defeat Petr Yan in Trilogy Showdown