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UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev continues on the prelims with a fight between Azamat Murzakanov and Dominick Reyes in the light heavyweight division. Check out our UFC 333 odds series for our Murzakanov-Reyes prediction and pick.
Azamat Murzakanov (16-1) suffered the first loss of his career when Paulo Costa stopped him via third-round head-kick TKO at UFC 327 on April 11. Prior to that defeat, he knocked out Aleksandar Rakic and Brendson Ribeiro in the first round, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Dominick Reyes.
Dominick Reyes (16-5) bounced back with a split decision win over Johnny Walker at UFC 327 on April 11. He has won four of his last five, with a September 2025 loss to Carlos Ulberg snapping a three-fight knockout streak, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Azamat Murzakanov.
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UFC 333 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings
UFC 333 Odds: Azamat Murzakanov-Dominick Reyes Odds
Azamat Murzakanov: -198
Dominick Reyes: +164
Over 1.5 rounds: +100
Under 1.5 rounds: -130
Why Azamat Murzakanov Will Win
Azamat Murzakanov is a compact, explosive southpaw counter-puncher who carries devastating knockout power in his hands, having finished twelve of his sixteen career victories by knockout. Despite giving up height and reach in almost every light heavyweight bout, his blinding hand speed allows him to bridge the gap in the blink of an eye.
His most dangerous weapon is his lunging left cross and tight right hook in the pocket, which he used to flatten top contender Aleksandar Rakic in the opening round last October. Against a tall target like Dominick Reyes, Murzakanov can slip underneath long jabs and unload ferocious combinations directly to the chin.
While Reyes has revitalized his career recently, his durability against elite power punchers remains a glaring question mark, as seen in his first-round knockout loss to Carlos Ulberg. Murzakanov also boasts an eighty-eight percent takedown defense rate, ensuring this fight stays on the feet where his power plays best.
By patiently stalking Reyes, cutting off the cage, and timing a counter over a lazy kick or jab, Murzakanov can land the fight-ending blow. He will catch Reyes in an exchange and score a early knockout.
Why Dominick Reyes Will Win
Dominick Reyes holds a massive six-inch height and six-inch reach advantage in this southpaw-versus-southpaw clash, giving him all the physical tools to control the outside range. Landing nearly five significant strikes per minute, the former title challenger excels when he fights behind long straight lefts and punishing body kicks.
In his April victory over Johnny Walker, Reyes displayed a much more measured, defensively responsible approach rather than hunting recklessly for an early finish. That patience will be vital against Azamat Murzakanov, who relies on explosive blitzes early but has shown questionable cardiovascular conditioning when pushed into the third round.
Paulo Costa proved in April that if you weather Murzakanov’s early storm, attack his body with kicks, and force him to work for fifteen minutes, the thirty-seven-year-old slows down considerably. Reyes throws twenty percent of his strikes to the legs and twenty-four percent to the body, ideal weapons for chipping away at a shorter plodder.
If Reyes stays off the fence, uses his lateral footwork, and picks Murzakanov apart from seventy-seven inches away, he can frustrate the Russian power puncher. Reyes will survive the opening frame and outpoint a tiring Murzakanov down the stretch.
Final Azamat Murzakanov-Dominick Reyes Prediction & Pick
This featured preliminary bout at 205 pounds is a high-stakes battle between the long-range kicking game of Dominick Reyes and the explosive pocket blitzes of Azamat Murzakanov. Both men fought at UFC 327 in April, with Reyes edging out Johnny Walker while Murzakanov suffered his first career defeat late against Paulo Costa.
Reyes has a six-inch reach advantage and knows he must use his footwork and body kicks to keep the shorter southpaw at the end of his strikes. However, Reyes still tends to leave his chin exposed when retreating in straight lines or throwing combinations in the pocket.
Murzakanov is at his absolute deadliest in the first seven minutes, possessing the hand speed and compact hooks to punish any defensive lapse. Just as he did against a much taller Aleksandar Rakic here in Abu Dhabi last year, Murzakanov will slip inside a long strike and detonate a left hand on the button.
Final Azamat Murzakanov-Dominick Reyes Prediction & Pick: Azamat Murzakanov (-198), Under 1.5 Rounds (-130)
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