UFC 333: Abubakar Vagaev vs Jacob Malkoun Preview & Prediction

A middleweight early prelim sees ACA welterweight champion Abubakar Vagaev move up to 185 pounds to face Australian wrestler Jacob Malkoun.

Abubakar Vagaev vs Jacob Malkoun facts

What time are Abubakar Vagaev and Jacob Malkoun expected to walk out? 24 October 2026 at 3:10 pm

Where is UFC 333: Volkanovski vs Evloev? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Where can I get tickets for UFC 333: Volkanovski vs Evloev? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 333

What TV channel is UFC 333: Volkanovski vs Evloev on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC 333: Volkanovski vs Evloev? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC 333: Volkanovski vs Evloev main card

Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev (Featherweight)

Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili (Bantamweight)

Lone’er Kavanagh vs Ramazan Temirov (Flyweight)

Alexander Volkov vs Rizvan Kuniev (Heavyweight)

Aaron Pico vs Losene Keita (Featherweight)

UFC 333: Volkanovski vs Evloev prelims

Azamat Murzakanov vs Dominick Reyes (Light Heavyweight)

Nikita Krylov vs Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev (Light Heavyweight)

Abusupiyan Magomedov vs Cameron Rowston (Middleweight)

Grant Dawson vs Nurullo Aliev (Lightweight)

Colby Thicknesse vs Asaf Chopurov (Bantamweight)

Abubakar Vagaev vs Jacob Malkoun (Middleweight)

Bolaji Oki vs Daniel Santos (Lightweight)

Kody Steele vs Noah Gugnon (Lightweight)

Iasmin Lucindo vs Nicolle Caliari (Women’s Strawweight)

Abubakar Vagaev: Disciplined grappler steps up to a new weight class

Abubakar Vagaev (25-4) won his octagon debut in July, edging Saygid Izagakhmaev 29-28 on all three scorecards at UFC Abu Dhabi. That fight was closer than the scorecards suggest. Vagaev got hurt on the feet and had to survive a late armbar attempt, but his takedown timing and strong entries did the heavy lifting. The two-time ACA welterweight champion has a well-rounded stand-up game with a clean mix of strikes, but he does most of his work in the grappling department. He controls opponents on the fence and on the floor and throws knees and elbows in the clinch to score points and look busy. He’s disciplined, and he doesn’t mind a boring fight if it keeps him ahead on the cards.

Jacob Malkoun: “Mamba” chasing four in a row

Jacob Malkoun (10-3) arrives on a three-fight win streak, but the performances behind it are less convincing than the numbers. His finish of Andre Petroski came after Petroski knocked himself out shooting into Malkoun’s hip. He won against Torrez Finney but his decision over Gerald Meerschaert in Perth was close. It’s not a great look as a prospect against an aged GM3. Malkoun is a heavy-volume wrestler who chains his attempts together rather than settling for single shots. His striking has only started to develop at UFC level though, and he has a pretty bad takedown defence rate.

Abubakar Vagaev vs Jacob Malkoun prediction

Neither man has much finishing instinct. Malkoun’s only UFC stoppage is the Petroski fluke, and Vagaev hasn’t finished anyone since 2017. These are two point fighters, and with a decision the likeliest outcome, the small edges matter.

Malkoun is the natural middleweight, and Vagaev is stepping up from 170 less than three months after his debut, so he has the lighter man’s skill. Vagaev is actually the taller man in this match up, and in a fight that will probably come down to the scorecard, that skill and sharpness will count for more than a few extra pounds.

Malkoun’s volume wrestling is his best weapon, but Vagaev’s takedown timing and entries are cleaner. The Australian is the more likely of the two to end up on bottom after the scrambles. On the feet Vagaev should also hold the better edge and gas tank. 

Malkoun made it close against a GM3 well past his prime, which doesn’t inspire much confidence that he’ll outwork a two-time champion. Give me the Chechen to grind out another one.

Prediction: Abubakar Vagaev to win by decision