Vagaev vs Malkoun at UFC 333: Two Middleweights Who Go the Distance
Twenty of Abubakar Vagaev's 25 wins went to the judges. Jacob Malkoun has won seven of his 10 on the scorecards and has yet to win by submission. Both middleweights average at least four takedowns per 15 minutes, and they meet on the early prelims of UFC 333 on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Vagaev, 33, is 25-4 and fights out of Akhmat Fight Club. Beyond his 20 decisions, he has four knockouts and one submission. He made his UFC debut in July 2026 and won a unanimous decision, and that single 15-minute fight is his entire UFC sample: 1.80 significant strikes landed per minute, 2.20 absorbed and four takedowns per 15 minutes.
Malkoun, 31, nicknamed "Mamba," is 10-3 and has competed in the UFC since October 2020. A training partner of former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, he stands 5-foot-9 with a 73-inch reach. His most recent fight, in May 2026, was a unanimous-decision win. He averages 5.39 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 27% of his significant strikes on the ground.
- Takedowns per 15 minutes: Malkoun 5.39, Vagaev 4.00.
- Takedown defense: Vagaev 71%, Malkoun 56%.
- Striking output: Malkoun 4.23 per minute at 57%, Vagaev 1.80.
- Striking defense: Vagaev 60%, Malkoun 55%.
- Knockout wins: Vagaev 4, Malkoun 3.
The question: whose wrestling holds up when both men are chasing the same takedown?
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 seat: Vagaev vs Malkoun tickets.