Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fly Warriors Lonely Kavanagh vs. Ramazan Temirov will drop this weekend (Saturday 24 October 2026) at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates UFC 333.
It didn’t take long for Kavanagh to break into the Top 10 and join the mix for the Flyweight titles. Five fights into his UFC career, the athletic young prospect has already faced three top-ranked opponents and defeated a former world champion. He has lost two of his last three, but no one doubts the 27-year-old standout’s overall skills and potential.
Temirov is also just three wins into his UFC career, a relatively new face with Rizin’s experience. The Uzbek fighter has a fan-friendly style, a constant mix of power punches, spinning kicks and relentless grappling. He enters this fight off the back of a sensational knockout Steve Ercegso another big win could punch his ticket into the top five.
Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:
Kavanagh vs Temirov Betting odds
- Lone’er Kavanagh win: -113
- Lone’er Kavanagh via TKO/KO/DQ: +185
- Lone’er Kavanagh via submission: +800
- Lone’er Kavanagh via decision: +275
- Ramazan Temirov’s win: -113
- Ramazan Temirov via TKO/KO/DQ: +185
- Ramazan Temirov via submission: +2000
- Ramazan Temirov by decision: +400
- Odds via FanDuel sports betting
Kavanagh is an explosive forward with an interesting combination of tools. He’s not the tallest flyweight, nor does he have the longest reach, but Kavanagh can go the distance quickly with quick jabs and sharp counter punches. In addition, he is a dangerous kicker, which was a significant aspect of his victory Brandon Moreno.
This is a rare match where both Kavanagh and Temirov are not at a height disadvantage. Two pockets don’t have to travel an unusually long distance to hit each other, which changes the dynamic. Between the two, Kavanagh is a much straighter hitter and relies less on raw explosiveness to fill his upright position.
There are a few keys to dealing with an athlete like Temirov. In particular, Kavanagh can’t get away from the changes – so the long right turn eventually falls clean. Kavanagh needs to stand and drop behind his lead shoulder or cut from an angle, as both options give him counter-options. That’s the other side of his game plan: he needs to take advantage of a wild, hurling attack.
It’s not easy to stand in front of a sprinting haymaker and try to miss him with a counter, but Kavanagh will have to make Temirov pay if he wants to win this fight.
Temirov may not be the biggest flyweight, but he is still a formidable athletic force. He puts so much effort into his entire attack—whether it’s a big swing, a spinning attack, or a blast—that opponents have little time to react and no room for error.
Avert the wrong attack and a massive clash is coming.
Temirov’s advantage here is unpredictability and two-sided offense. In a straight kickboxing match, I’d prefer Kavanagh, who has more weapons and tends to build his offense more strategically. But the threat of a takedown can really change that dynamic, and Temirov needs to capitalize on his takedowns even if he struggles to hold Kavanagh down.
The first adjustment Temirov should make for this fight is to straighten out his punches a bit. Deep overhands and left hooks were a valid challenge for Erceg, a tall and lanky bloke, but Kavanagh is more likely to hold his own and fire back with force. As such, Temirov should feint more often, as well as straighten his right hand and move it to the body occasionally.
A little change in boxing can help, especially given Temirov’s unpredictable punches and sudden level changes.
Kavanagh vs Temirov Prediction
It is a contest between two fighters who can knock out the other in any given exchange. Kavanagh is likely the brighter long-term prospect, while Temirov is far more experienced and could be ready to fight at this point. It should be an interesting matchup wherever the fight goes, and I’ll be interested to see whose gas tank holds up in the later rounds (if we get that far).
However, my prediction is based largely on one element: Kavanagh went to war Brandon Royval just three months ago. Although he technically lost by submission, he took a lot of damage and was shaken several times during this grueling fight. I get that he’s a hotshot 27-year-old intent on UFC gold, but chasing a quick rebound against one of the hottest punchers in the division is a great idea?
I don’t like career management. There is no need for a young highly rated talent to take on such a tough opponent so quickly after a tough loss. In a close match, these circumstances can really make a difference … and dramatically change the course of a career.
Prediction: Temirov via knockout
