Colby Thicknesse and Alexander Volkanovski Set for UFC 333

Colby Thicknesse and Alexander Volkanovski will both be booked to compete on the same UFC card for the first time when they return at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24.

Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title against Movsar Evloev in the main event, while Thicknesse is scheduled to meet Asaf Chopurov on the early prelims. The official UFC 333 card also features a bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. UFC

Thicknesse had openly called for the opportunity. After saying he was medically cleared and looking for a fight, he posted that UFC 333 was where he wanted to be. “It has always been a dream of mine to share a card with him,” Thicknesse wrote, referring to his teammate Volkanovski. The UFC has since confirmed Thicknesse’s fight with Chopurov.

A partnership built over years

The connection between Thicknesse and Volkanovski goes back well before either man was competing in the UFC. Thicknesse began wrestling with his brother as a child and met Volkanovski while training in his early teens. He later trained alongside the future champion at Freestyle Fighting Gym, developing into one of his regular sparring partners. www.foxsports.com.au

Volkanovski has spoken about seeing Thicknesse grow from a young trainee into a professional fighter. Recalling their early days together, he said Thicknesse became “one of my main training partners” and praised his commitment to the sport. www.foxsports.com.au

Thicknesse has also described what it has meant to have Volkanovski and coach Joe Lopez supporting him throughout his career. In a UFC interview, he called having the pair in his corner “super-reassuring”. That support was visible at UFC 312 in Sydney, where Volkanovski cornered Thicknesse for his UFC debut. www.ufc.com

Their UFC 312 appearance together came in different roles. Thicknesse fought Aleksandre Topuria after stepping in on short notice, while Volkanovski watched from his corner. Thicknesse lost by unanimous decision, and Topuria had his brother, former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, in his corner.

Thicknesse returns with two UFC wins

Thicknesse’s UFC 333 booking comes after two consecutive victories. Following his debut loss, he defeated Josias Musasa and then earned a unanimous decision win over Vince Morales at UFC Perth in May 2026. His professional record stands at 9-1, according to UFC Stats. ufcstats.com

Chopurov will present another significant test. The UFC’s card lists the bout on the early prelims, and the undefeated prospect is reported to hold an 11-0 professional record ahead of his UFC debut. That makes the matchup a chance for Thicknesse to build on his recent run against a newcomer entering the promotion with momentum. UFC

Volkanovski, meanwhile, has a title defence against Evloev, the challenger named for UFC 333’s main event. It gives the Australian teammates very different assignments on the same card: Thicknesse will look to continue climbing after his return to form, while Volkanovski puts his featherweight championship on the line. UFC

The shared booking adds a personal thread to an event already led by a title fight involving one of Australia’s biggest MMA names. Thicknesse’s callout made clear that competing alongside Volkanovski was something he wanted; now both will prepare for their own opponents on the same night.

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