Kavanagh vs Temirov Preview: Can Kavanagh Weather 'Temurlan' Early?

Ramazan Temirov's fights don't tend to last. The #10 flyweight, nicknamed "Temurlan," spends an average of just 7:24 in the cage per bout. He also carries a 3.38 knockdown average into his UFC 333 meeting with #6-ranked Lone’er Kavanagh at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, Oct. 24. The 29-year-old Uzbek is 20-3 and made his Octagon debut in October 2024. Kavanagh, a 27-year-old Englishman, is 10-2 and debuted a month later, in November 2024.

On paper, Kavanagh has the tools to keep him at bay:

• Size: 5'6" with a 67-inch reach to Temirov's 5'4" and 63 inches, a two-inch edge in height and four in reach.
• Accuracy: 50% to Temirov's 41%.
• Grappling options: 1.12 takedowns and 0.37 submission attempts per 15 minutes; Temirov averages 0.68 takedowns and has yet to attempt a submission.

Temirov's case is just as clear:

• Output and defense: 4.73 significant strikes landed per minute to Kavanagh's 4.13, 3.65 absorbed to Kavanagh's 3.94, and 62% striking defense to 54%.
• Takedown defense: a perfect 100%, versus Kavanagh's 83%.
• Finishing: 12 knockouts among his 20 wins and 11 first-round finishes. Kavanagh has four knockouts, one submission and two first-round finishes, with a knockdown average of 0.37.

Temirov lands 87% of his significant strikes at distance and only 5% on the ground. Kavanagh's split is 81% at distance, 8% in the clinch and 11% on the ground, and half of his wins have gone to decision, compared with 35% for Temirov. Kavanagh's average fight runs 13:27, nearly double Temirov's. The key question: can Kavanagh use his reach and accuracy to get through the first round on his own terms, and if he does, does the fight start to swing toward the man more used to going long?

The card gets underway at 6 p.m. local time with the early prelims, followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. and the main card at 10 p.m. With Temirov's fights averaging just 7:24, don't spend this one at the bar. Get your seat: Kavanagh vs Temirov tickets.