UFC 333 Delivers Exciting Prelims to Abu Dhabi!

UFC 333 fight week is here. Saturday, the October schedule of events for the UFC continues with a trip to the United Arab Emirates for this month's flagship show at Etihad Arena. Live coverage of UFC 333 begins with the early prelims at an earlier time of 10 am ET/ 7 am PT, so you'll need to wake up early if you're on the West Coast.

Stateside, this portion of UFC 333 can be seen in a simulcast on UFC Fight Pass and Paramount Plus. Late prelims follow at 12 noon ET/ 9 am PT on Paramount Plus before the five-fight main card caps the day at 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT.

If there are no adjustments needed to the schedule between now and the weekend, the final version of UFC 333 will feature a slate of 14 fights, highlighted by a title fight doubleheader at the top of the bill.

UFC 333 Featured Prelim: No. 7 Contender Azamat Murzakanov vs. No. 8 Contender Dominick Reyes: Murzakanov Looking to Get Back to Victory Lane

At the top of the UFC 333 undercard for Saturday, light heavyweights take to the cage for a battle between No. 7 contender Azamat Murzakanov (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and No. 8 contender Dominick Reyes (16-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC.) All fights mentioned herein are three rounds at five minutes per round.

Murzakanov enters this weekend with a record of 4-1 in his last five fights. He'd been unbeaten in the UFC ahead of UFC 327, but a head kick from Paulo Costa (16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in the third round of their fight last April put an end to his winning streak.

Just as a fighter can be vicious when he's on a winning streak, as Azamat Murzakanov was, he can be just as dangerous in his first fight coming off of a winning streak ending. How will he fare here?

Dominick Reyes Looks to Build Off Split Decision Win

Across the way, Dominick Reyes comes into UFC 333 with a 4-1 record of his own in his last five outings. Like Murzakanov, Reyes also fought on UFC 327 in April.

The April 11 event proved to be a fruitful night for Reyes and his camp. That evening, he scored a victory by way of split decision over Johnny Walker (23-10, 1 NC MMA, 9-7, 1 NC UFC) after 15 minutes of action. 

This contest was Reyes' first under the UFC banner after the birth of his child late last year. Can he win two fights in a row?

UFC 333 Co-Featured Prelim: No. 15 Contender Nikita Krylov vs. Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev: Krylov Returns After Injury

Immediately beforehand, more light heavyweight action serves as the focus of the UFC 333 co-featured prelim when No. 15 contender Nikita Krylov (31-12 MMA, 12-10 UFC) meets undefeated Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC.) The former enters this, his 44th professional bout, sporting a mark of 2-3 in his last five bouts.

On July 11, he suffered a third-round TKO due to punches from Robert Whittaker (27-9 MMA, 18-7 UFC) during UFC 329, but the defeat came at an price for Krylov. He suffered a fractured jaw during the fight.

With a clean bill of health now afforded to Krylov, he'll return to action on Saturday night. The road ahead doesn't get any easier for him, however.

Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev Seeking Another First-Round Knockout in UFC 333

Meanwhile, Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev has yet to lose in professional MMA. His last five fights were completed inside the first round of action, including his latest triumph against Julius Walker (8-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in July. That night, Yakhyaev needed just eight seconds to finish off Walker with a right hook followed by ground and pound shots. 

A word of warning: Don't make your lunch while Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev is in the Octagon in UFC 333 on Saturday. If you leave the room to get something to eat, there's a chance that you could miss the finish.

MMA fighters don't make hourly rates when they step in the cage. Another quick night in the cage could be in the offing this weekend.

UFC 333: Abus Magomedov vs. Cam Rowston: Magomedov Hunting for Another Submission

Also on UFC 333's undercard, you'll be treated to a middleweight contest matching Abus Magomedov (29-7-1 MMA, 5-3 UFC) against Cam Rowston (15-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC.) The former enters the weekend with a 4-1 mark in his last five tilts.

On June 27, he trekked to Baku for a fight against Michal Oleksiejczuk (22-10, 1 NC MMA, 10-8, 1 NC UFC,) stopping his opponent by way of first-round submission due to a guillotine choke. Numerically speaking, Magomedov has recorded eight out of his 29 career victories by way of submission, and 22 wins by stoppage overall.

How will he fare this weekend? Only time will tell.

Cam Rowston on Hot Streak Ahead of UFC 333

In the other corner, Cam Rowston comes into this fight having gone 5-0 in his last five outings. He's won seven fights in a row dating back to November of 2024, during which time he competed in Eternal MMA.

More recently, he scored a unanimous decision in UFC Perth on May 2 against Robert Bryczek (18-8 MMA, 1-3 UFC) after 15 minutes. Cam Rowston hasn't lost under MMA rules in almost three years' time. 

Whether or not his good fortune continues this weekend remains to be seen, however.

Rest of the Prelims

UFC 333's prelims are rounded out by these fights:

• a lightweight contest between Grant Dawson (24-3-1 MMA, 12-2-1 UFC) and Nurullo Aliev (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC,)
• a bantamweight bout in the featured early prelim versing Colby Thicknesse (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) against Asuf Chopurov (11-0 MMA, UFC promotional debut,)
• a middleweight attraction during the co-featured early prelim pairing Jacob Malkoun (10-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) with Abubakar Vagaev (25-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in his 30th professional bout,
• a featherweight fight matching Bolaji Oki (10-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) against Daniel Santos (13-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC,)
• a lightweight matchup between Kody Steele (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Noah Gugnon (10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC,)
• and a strawweight fight versing Iasmin Lucindo (18-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) with Nicolle Caliari (9-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC.)