Colby Thicknesse VS Asaf Chopurov

Asaf Chopurov defeated Colby Thicknesse by split decision at UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev on October 24, 2026, in a three-round bantamweight bout. Two of the three judges scored it 29-28 for Chopurov, with one dissenting card of 29-28 for Thicknesse. Chopurov controlled Round 1 with takedowns and forward pressure, while Thicknesse responded in Round 2 with knees to the body, elbows, and a kimura attempt. In the third round, Chopurov secured another takedown, cut Thicknesse under the right eye, and closed out the fight with body punches despite a late trip-to-right-hook sequence from Thicknesse. The result keeps the unbeaten Chopurov’s record intact in his UFC debut.

A rich subplot runs through this bantamweight prelim: Colby Thicknesse trains with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, while Asaf Chopurov trains alongside bantamweight champion Petr Yan — both champions defend their titles at this same event. Chopurov makes his UFC debut undefeated at 11-0 with 10 finishes as the reigning UAE Warriors bantamweight champion, while Thicknesse brings real UFC experience and a 2-1 octagon record to test the hotly touted prospect.