UFC 333’s preliminary card delivered its own fireworks at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 24, 2026, while Alexander Volkanovski and Petr Yan were busy defending their belts on the main card. American Grant Dawson ended Nurullo Aliev’s unbeaten run, and Colby Thicknesse, a training partner of featherweight champion Volkanovski, upset previously unbeaten prospect Asaf Chopurov. Four of the nine preliminary winners finished their opponents inside the distance, and two fighters left the cage with the first loss of their professional careers.
Dawson Stops Aliev’s Perfect Record
In a lightweight bout (155 pounds, 70 kg), Nurullo Aliev walked in at 12-0 as a pro and 4-0 inside the Octagon. The Tajikistani had no answer for Grant Dawson, a Season 1 Dana White’s Contender Series alum, who won a clean unanimous decision. All three judges scored it 29-27. It was the first loss of Aliev’s career, who drops to 12-1 overall and 4-1 in the UFC. Dawson improves to 25-3-1 overall.
Thicknesse Spoils Chopurov’s Debut
In a bantamweight clash (135 pounds, 61 kg), Asaf Chopurov made his promotional debut at 11-0, regarded as one of the top prospects at bantamweight and a former UAE Warriors champion. The Azerbaijani had over 30 amateur fights before turning pro, losing only once, and trains alongside bantamweight champion Petr Yan, who retained his own title earlier in the night against Merab Dvalishvili.
Colby Thicknesse, the Australian who trains with headliner Alexander Volkanovski, spoiled the party. A former HEX Fight Series champion, Thicknesse dropped his UFC debut to Aleksandre Topuria before winning back to back decisions over Josias Musasa and Vince Morales. He edged Chopurov on a split verdict, two judges siding with him 29-28 and the third favoring Chopurov by the same score. It was Chopurov’s first professional defeat, and Thicknesse moves to 10-1 overall, 3-1 in his last four UFC fights.
Two previously unbeaten fighters lost the first fight of their professional careers on the same night, in two different divisions.
Reyes Finishes, Yakhyaev Stays Perfect
In the light heavyweight division (205 pounds, 93 kg), Dominick Reyes picked up where he left off. The American, who beat Johnny Walker by split decision at UFC 327 in April in his first fight since becoming a father, stopped Azamat Murzakanov by knockout, a head kick followed by ground strikes, at 2:40 of round one. He is 4-1 in his last five fights, a run that now includes a 17-5 overall record and an 11-5 mark inside the Octagon. Reyes is a former light heavyweight title challenger.
Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev kept his own streak alive. The Russian improved to 11-0 overall and 4-0 in the UFC by finishing Nikita Krylov with a knee and follow-up punches at 2:38 of the first round. His last five fights have all ended in round one, including an eight-second finish of Julius Walker in July. That win over Krylov was his fourth octagon appearance since signing with the promotion.
At middleweight (185 pounds, 84 kg), Abus Magomedov made it a third quick finish on the card, tapping out Cameron Rowston with a guillotine choke at 1:44 of round one, his second straight guillotine submission. The Russian improves to 30-7-1 overall. Rowston trains at City Kickboxing, the New Zealand gym also home to Volkanovski and Thicknesse, making him the second fighter from that camp on the preliminary card.
Rest of the Card
Earlier on the card, American Kody Steele stopped French fighter Noah Gugnon by punches at 3:54 of the first round, improving to 9-1 overall and 2-1 in the UFC. Abubakar Vagaev outpointed Jacob Malkoun (29-28 across the board), Brazilian Daniel Santos did the same to Belgium’s Bolaji Oki (29-28), and Iasmin Lucindo topped fellow Brazilian Nicolle Caliari (30-27). All three of those decisions were unanimous, with no judge siding against the winner.
Eight nationalities were represented across the nine preliminary bouts, from the United States and Russia to Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Australia, Brazil, Belgium and France. Three Americans walked away with wins on the prelims: Reyes, Dawson and Steele. No next opponent has been announced yet for Thicknesse, Chopurov, Dawson or Aliev. Full results from the main card, including Volkanovski’s title defense against Evloev and Yan’s win over Dvalishvili, are available in our UFC results hub.
