Murzakanov vs Reyes: Reach vs Knockdown Power at UFC 333

Stand them side by side and the problem is obvious. Dominick Reyes is 6'4"; Azamat Murzakanov is 5'10". Reyes has a 77-inch reach to Murzakanov's 71.5, a gap of five and a half inches at light heavyweight. When the two top-10 contenders meet at UFC 333 on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, distance is going to be the story.

Murzakanov, the 37-year-old Russian known as "Professional," is 16-1 and has competed in the UFC since November 2021. Reyes, 36, nicknamed "The Devastator," is 16-5 and has been in the Octagon since June 2017. One brings more mileage, the other a near-spotless record.

Murzakanov makes up for the size deficit with power. He averages 1.58 knockdowns, nearly double Reyes' 0.89. Twelve of his 16 wins have come by knockout, 75% of the total, and he has 10 first-round finishes. He lands 4.40 significant strikes a minute at 56% accuracy, absorbs 3.20 and avoids 56% of what's thrown at him. One quirk worth noting: 24% of his significant strikes come on the ground even though he averages just 0.68 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Reyes is the busier striker at 4.99 landed per minute with 54% accuracy, but he absorbs 3.40 and defends only half of the significant strikes thrown at him. Three-quarters of his output comes standing, another 10% in the clinch. He can finish, too, with 10 knockouts, two submissions and 11 first-round finishes, one more than Murzakanov. Neither is easy to take down: Murzakanov stops 89% of attempts, Reyes 83%. Don't expect a grappling match.

Their fights are short. Murzakanov averages 8:17 of cage time per bout, Reyes 7:51, and between them they own 22 knockout wins and 21 first-round finishes. It all hinges on one thing: can Murzakanov get inside that reach and land something heavy before Reyes builds a lead from the outside?

The early prelims start at 6 p.m. local time, the prelims at 8 p.m. and the main card at 10 p.m. Get your seats: UFC 333 tickets.