Jacob Malkoun vs. Abubakar Vagaev
UFC 333 · October 24, 2026 · Etihad Arena · Early Prelims
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Veteran finisher vs. debuting grinder moving up in weight
- Finish likelihood
- Medium
- The line
- No line posted yet
- The stakes
- Middleweight · Early Prelims
The read
Malkoun's finishing instincts and championship-level training partners give him a path to end this if Vagaev's takedowns don't materialize at the new weight, and his own three-fight win streak suggests real form.
Vagaev's wrestling pedigree and durability make him a live threat to grind out rounds regardless of the size difference, but this is a significant step up in competition for just his second Octagon appearance.
A tight, competitive fight that could go either way.
The matchup
This newly added middleweight bout pits a well-traveled Australian finisher against a Russian newcomer stepping up a weight class.
Malkoun, a longtime Robert Whittaker training partner, has won three straight and finished three of his ten career wins by knockout, while Vagaev arrives off a decision win in his UFC debut, a two-time ACA welterweight champion who trains daily alongside Khamzat Chimaev.
The step up from welterweight to middleweight is a real question for Vagaev against an opponent who already holds a size and experience edge inside the Octagon.
Tale of the tape
| 10-3 | Record | 25-4 |
| 31 | Age | 33 |
| 5'9" | Height | 5'11" |
| 73" | Reach | 73" |
| — | Stance | Orthodox |
| Australia | Country | Russia |
| Gracie Smeaton Grange | Team | Akhmat Fight Club |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Jacob Malkoun 10-3
“Mamba”
Jacob 'Mamba' Malkoun is a 31-year-old Australian middleweight and longtime training partner of former champion Robert Whittaker at Gracie Smeaton Grange in Sydney. He has won three straight since a first-round disqualification loss to Cody Brundage, most recently outpointing veteran Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Perth in May 2026, and now meets Chechen-born Russian newcomer Abubakar Vagaev in a newly added UFC 333 bout.
- WGerald Meerschaert · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates · May 2, 2026
- WTorrez Finney · Decision (unanimous)UFC 325 · January 31, 2026
- WAndre Petroski · KO/TKO (soccer kick)UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot · March 30, 2024
Abubakar Vagaev 25-4
Abubakar Vagaev is a 33-year-old Russian fighter out of Akhmat Fight Club in Grozny, a two-time ACA welterweight champion and daily training partner of former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. He won a unanimous decision over Saygid Izagakhmaev in his UFC debut at UFC Abu Dhabi in July 2026, and now steps up to middleweight to face Jacob Malkoun in a newly added bout at UFC 333.
- WSaygid Izagakhmaev · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov · July 25, 2026
- WAlbert Tumenov · Decision (unanimous)ACA 183 · February 8, 2025