Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev are set to headline UFC 333 on October 24 in Abu Dhabi. Speaking to MMA Fighting during UFC 331 fight week in Los Angeles, both men recalled training together years ago, back when Evloev was still a bantamweight wrapping up his M-1 title run and Volkanovski was climbing the 145-pound ladder.

"I used to be a bantamweight at that time, it was before UFC," Evloev said. "Now he has his own gym in Thailand. He had just fought with Chad Mendes and he fought Jose Aldo at UFC 237 and won by unanimous decision."

Volkanovski does not put much stock in those old sessions. "I do remember us training, it was a long time ago," he said. 'You can't go off training sessions then. As he said, he would have been young. All I worry about is how he's been looking in his last few performances.'

A lot has changed since those sessions. Volkanovski heads into UFC 333 as the reigning featherweight champion. Evloev, ranked number two at featherweight, is unbeaten and coming off a majority decision win over Lerone Murphy back in March.

Our model has this one nearly even, giving Evloev a 53 percent shot against Volkanovski's 47. Sportsbooks are just as tight, with Evloev at -107 and Volkanovski at -108.