Yakhyaev (11-0) stopped Krylov (31-13) at 2:38 of the opening round Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. He landed a knee to the head against the cage before following up with punches to secure the finish.
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev outlines light heavyweight title ambitions after UFC 333 win over Nikita Krylov
Yakhyaev said he had followed Krylov’s career since he was around 18 and beginning his own journey in mixed martial arts. Defeating a fighter he had enjoyed watching made the victory particularly meaningful.
“I know Nikita Krylov long time. I mean, I watch his fights when I was like 18, when I like starting, you know, like normal MMA where I fight, I watch his fights, I like his fights and now I fight with him and I win,” he said in a postfight interview.
Looking ahead, the 25-year-old said he wants to work his way through the division’s top five. He also suggested that an active schedule could put him in position to challenge for the championship next year.
“I will fight with five places and then four and then three second and first,” Yakhyaev added.
"I want a fight with the top 5." Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev (@YakhyaevMMA) picks up his third win of the year and lays out his ideal path to the title #UFC333 Prelim Results ➡️ https://t.co/0NvPvKZsLT @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi https://t.co/IqQ5T2Y4KG— UFC News (@UFCNews) October 24, 2026