Sports · Combat Sports · 4 hrs ago
Colby Thicknesse upsets Asaf Chopurov by split decision at UFC 333
Australian fighter Colby Thicknesse beat Asaf Chopurov by split decision at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi.
Thicknesse was a major underdog, while Chopurov entered the fight undefeated and was making his UFC debut.
The two bantamweights fought for three rounds, with Thicknesse using grappling and striking to challenge Chopurov.
Two judges scored the fight 29-28 for Thicknesse, while the third gave Chopurov the same score.
The close decision drew criticism from some fans and commentator Daniel Cormier, who did not think Thicknesse had done enough to win.
The result gave Chopurov his first career loss and improved Thicknesse’s professional record to 10-1.
Thicknesse has trained with Alexander Volkanovski for years, and Volkanovski also won at the event, retaining his featherweight title.
Colby Thicknesse beat Asaf Chopurov by split decision in a UFC 333 bantamweight bout in Abu Dhabi.
Two judges scored the fight 29-28 for Thicknesse, while the third scored it 29-28 for Chopurov.
The result gave Thicknesse a career record of 10-1 and handed Chopurov his first professional loss after an 11-0 start.
The decision drew criticism from some fans and commentators, who said Chopurov had done enough to win.
Thicknesse, a training partner of Alexander Volkanovski, was described by outlets as the card’s biggest underdog.
- Who
- Colby Thicknesse and Asaf Chopurov, bantamweight fighters.
- What
- Thicknesse won by split decision, with two judges scoring the bout 29-28 for him and one scoring it 29-28 for Chopurov.
- When
- October 24, 2026.
- Where
- UFC 333 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
- Why
- The judges gave Thicknesse the win after three rounds; the sources report that he used grappling and landed damaging blows.
Colby Thicknesse and his supporters
Asaf Chopurov and his supporters
Fight result
Colby Thicknesse and his supporters
Two judges scored the bout 29-28 for Thicknesse, awarding him the split decision.
Asaf Chopurov and his supporters
One judge scored the bout 29-28 for Chopurov, and some fans and commentator Daniel Cormier thought Thicknesse had not done enough to win.
Chopurov entered the fight with an 11-0 professional record, while Thicknesse was described as the biggest underdog on the card.
Thicknesse and Chopurov fought for three rounds at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi.
Two judges scored the bout 29-28 for Thicknesse and one scored it 29-28 for Chopurov, giving Thicknesse the split-decision win.
- Result
- Thicknesse won by split decision
- Judges' scores
- Two 29-28 scorecards for Thicknesse; one 29-28 for Chopurov
- Thicknesse's record
- 10-1 after the win
- Chopurov's record
- 11-0 before the fight; first professional loss
- Venue
- Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
- Event date
- October 24, 2026
4 sources
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What people are saying
5-1 underdog!
Biggest underdog on the card. Take an undefeated 23-win-streak Russian.
What a bum judge. Fire this idiot now!
Posts on X
CLOSE FIGHT 👀 Colby Thicknesse wins by split decision to finish the Early Prelims! @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi [ #UFC333 | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ]
WINNER BY SPLIT DECISION... Colby Thicknesse! [ #UFC333 | LIVE on @paramountplus ]
TOOK HIS 0 😮💨 Colby Thicknesse is HYPED after his win and give's his prediction for the UFC 333 main event! @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | InAbuDhabi [ LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ]