Magomedrasul Gasanov (23-2 in MMA) will make his UFC debut against Robert Valentin (2-3 in UFC) at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. The bout is scheduled for middleweight.
Magomedrasul Gasanov is headed to the UFC's middleweight division, with the promotion booking him against Robert Valentin at UFC 333, scheduled for October 24 in Abu Dhabi.
Gasanov arrives in the UFC carrying a 23-2 mixed martial arts record, making his promotional debut on one of the year's marquee cards. The matchup represents a significant step up in competition as he enters the world's premier MMA organization for the first time.
Standing across from him will be Robert Valentin, the Swiss middleweight known as "Robzilla." The 31-year-old trains out of Fight Move Academy and holds an overall professional record of 13-6. Inside the UFC, Valentin has gone 2-3, giving him a working knowledge of the octagon that his debuting opponent will lack. Valentin stands six-foot-two with a 77-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. His UFC numbers point to a submission-oriented game, with 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while his striking accuracy sits at a notable 55 percent on 1.3 significant strikes landed per minute. His takedown rate of 0.59 per 15 minutes rounds out a profile that leans toward the grappling side of the sport.
Why it matters
- Gasanov's 23-2 record signals a highly experienced prospect entering the UFC, and how he performs in this debut will shape his early trajectory in the division.
- Valentin's UFC experience gives him a meaningful edge in terms of octagon familiarity, though his 2-3 promotional record means he is also fighting for his own positioning in the middleweight ranks.
- A grappling-heavy matchup appears likely given Valentin's submission output, which could test how Gasanov's skills translate at UFC level.
- The Abu Dhabi setting on a numbered card raises the profile of both fighters, with a strong performance capable of drawing wider attention.
Saturday, October 24, 2026
