UFC 333 LIVE: Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev start time, undercard, fight updates and results

Yakhyaev, 25, is 10-0, while 34-year-old Krylov is 31-12…

Will Krylov’s experience win out? Can this be a hype check on Yakhyaev?

Or will the later continue his impressive, unbeaten run?

For all the focus on jabs, elbows, knees and throws, sometimes all it takes is a little push in MMA. Especially when you’re on the precipice.

That’s where Volkanovski finds himself, as much as in Abu Dhabi and at the Etihad Arena. People can talk down the physical threat of Evloev – and they have – based on the Russian’s relative lack of finishes, but Volkanovski stands on the edge of a sheer drop.

It is a long way down, even for the man who walks out to “Down Under”. And this is perhaps the greatest threat to the Australian’s second reign as UFC featherweight champion, at 38 years old.

Volkanovski has been one of the finest fighters of a generation, and is arguably the greatest featherweight of all time (even if the Jose Aldo debate may never end), but there exists a trend that even the sacred few atop the MMA mountain have been able to outfight or outthink…

We move up in weight yet again, as light-heavyweights Nikita Krylov and Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev square off next.

It’s Ukraine vs Turkey in this one.

Both men stand orthodox. A few low kicks from Magomedov early on, and Rowston looks uncomfortable.

The Aussie shoots for a takedown, but he’s caught in a guillotine… they hit the mat… and he goes to sleep!!!

Rowston tried to clear the legs and get off to the side, but he couldn’t, with Magomedov keeping his arm locked tight across Rowston’s neck!

Abus Magomedov def. Cam Rowston via first-round submission (guillotine choke, 1:44)

We move up to 185lb now, where Abus Magomedov and Cam Rowston will square off.

Grant Dawson def. Nurullo Aliev via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)

Aliev actually sat on the canvas between rounds two and three, and now he’s lying on his side – post-fight – pointing to his thigh, it seems.

Aliev throws a jab then misses with a slow, looping left hook. Dawson kicks low, and does so well. He then shoots for a single-leg, before switching to a back body lock.

The pair separate and Dawson lands a clean left hook. He soon gets Aliev down again, with two minutes to go, and he’s in the Tajik’s closed guard.

Aliev needs something REALLY special to get the win now!

Dawson shoots again, but he has trouble clearing Aliev’s legs as the Tajik sits on the mat.

Aliev gets free, and back on the feet he lands a couple of clean shots. But Dawson fires back well, too! His shots are wider than Aliev’s, but they’re landing.

Dawson again has Aliev down but this time he wraps up the legs, Khabib style.

He’s holding Aliev down and has been doing so for a while. The first round might’ve been tight (before Aliev’s docked point), but this has been Dawson’s for sure.

Aliev is able to stand late on, and another fun striking exchange follows.

Back under way, and Aliev catches Dawson on the end of a high kick.

Both men look quite sloppy in the striking exchanges, and a grappling spell ensues.

Aliev shoots a failed takedown against the fence, and it’s eventually Dawson who gets down Aliev and tries a D’Arce choke in the final seconds – to no avail.