UFC 333 is less than 24 hours away…
It all goes down this weekend (Saturday, October 24, 2026) at Fight Island at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In the main event, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovsky defends his title Movsar Evloev … who FINALLY gets their shot at gold.
We have a weekly series at MMAmania.com called “Weekend Lock” where we share one bet we predict will happen when the chaotic dust settles in the desert. We also want to hear what our readers think (that’s you!), so tell us your most confident UFC 333 Betting Lock in the comments section below (see all UFC 333 odds here).
Summary of last week: After a week off (I was on holiday) I’m back to get back in the win column after my lock didn’t hit anything last weekend due to Another Fili starched Stone eaters with a headbutt from hell.
Let’s keep rolling below:
2nd place Heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov continues his march toward a long-awaited title shot as he collides with a rising contender Rizvan Kuniev UFC 333 on the main card.
I’m going to lock myself away this week Volkov‘s ML (-118).
I really don’t understand why the odds don’t respect Volkov.
In the last five years, Volkov has lost to only two men: the former heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and current champion Cyril Gane (twice). And let’s face it, he was brutally robbed in the second Gane fight that almost everyone thought he won.
Other than those two elite heavyweights, Volkov has been nearly perfect.
He has won six of his last seven fights with wins over quality opponents such as Sergey Pavlovich, Jailton Almeida, Tai Tuivasa and Waldo Cortes-Acosta. More importantly, the 37-year-old has improved immensely over the years, evolving from a dangerous kickboxer to one of the most complete fighters in the division.
Frankly, Volkov shouldn’t even be fighting Kuniev right now. He should fight for the UFC heavyweight title. He’s been one of the most consistent fighters in the division for years, and if the judges hadn’t completely screwed him against Gane, he’d have an even stronger case for a long-awaited title shot. Instead, he is forced to defend his seat against another hungry candidate. And somehow he’s hardly a betting favourite? Give me a break.
Stylistically, I think it’s a fantastic matchup for him.
Volkov stands a towering 6-foot-7 with an 80-inch reach, giving him a three-inch height and four-inch reach advantage over Kuniev. He excels at using these physical advantages, keeping opponents on the end of the shot, punishing them with shots and controlling the distance.
Simply put, unless your name is Ciryl Gane, you are unlikely to beat Volkov in a technical kickboxing match.
Now Kuniev is not lazy.
The 34-year-old Dagestani has looked somewhat impressive since joining the UFC, with wins over Almeida and Tyrell Fortune after a narrow split decision loss Curtis Blaydes. He’s physically strong, has good boxing and can make things ugly when hit.
But I think that’s where the problem lies.
Kuniev’s clearest path to victory is to put Volkov down and keep him there. However, he shot down inside the Octagon, preferring to punch and work directly.
And trying to beat Volkov for 15 minutes is a dangerous game.
Volkov has also greatly improved his defensive wrestling, which should make this a grind match even more difficult for Kuniev.
Kuniev is good and there’s a reason why he’s already knocking on the door of the heavyweight Top 5. He is durable, strong and has enough power to make Volkov uncomfortable. If he can consistently close the distance, push Volkov against the fence and turn it into an ugly clinch battle, he can absolutely steal the show.
Volkov is also getting older, and Father Time will eventually catch up with everyone.
However, I have much more confidence in Volkov’s experience, technical striking and ability to control distance than Kuniev’s relatively unproven offensive wrestling.
For almost equal money, I’ll happily back a fighter who’s been beating the best heavyweights in the world for years.
Give me this week’s “Weekend Lock” moneyline for Alexander Volkov (-118).
Alexander Volkov via TKO/KO/DQ: +400
Alexander Volkov via performance: +2000
Alexander Volkov with the decision: +175
Rizvan Kuniev via TKO/KO/DQ: +600
Rizvan Kuniev via submission: +1700
Rizvan Kuniev with the decision: +200
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