A bout between Abubakr Vagaev (1-0 UFC) and Jacob Malkoun (6-3 UFC) is in development for UFC 333, scheduled for October 24 in Abu Dhabi. No official confirmation has been announced, but the matchup is understood to be in active negotiations.
A middleweight matchup between Abubakr Vagaev and Jacob Malkoun is reportedly being developed for UFC 333, the Abu Dhabi card scheduled for October 24. The bout is understood to be in active negotiations, though no official confirmation has been issued.
Vagaev enters the discussion on the heels of a 1-0 start in the UFC, having made a winning debut in the promotion. Detailed statistical data for the Russian prospect was not available in the database, but his unbeaten UFC record places him among the division's emerging names to watch.
Malkoun, known as "Mamba," brings considerably more UFC experience to the table. The 31-year-old Australian carries a 10-3-0 professional record, with a 6-3 mark inside the octagon, and trains out of PMA Super Martial Arts. Standing five-foot-nine with a 73-inch reach, he fights out of an orthodox stance and has demonstrated well-rounded skills across his career. He lands an impressive 4.55 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, and his wrestling activity is among the more notable in the division, averaging 5.81 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The bout would continue Vagaev's early UFC development against a proven divisional veteran
- Malkoun's high takedown volume sets up a potential grappling-heavy contest
- A win for either man carries weight in the crowded middleweight picture
- UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi signals another high-profile international card for the promotion
Because the matchup has not been officially confirmed, the pairing remains subject to change before the October card.
Saturday, October 24, 2026
