Undefeated Russian light heavyweight Yakhyaev faces veteran Krylov at UFC 333
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The gist
Undefeated Russian light heavyweight Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev is scheduled to face veteran Nikita Krylov at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi.
The 10-0 prospect's first test against an experienced name will show if his quick finishes hold up.
Background
Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev is a 25-year-old Russian light heavyweight, nicknamed "The Hunter," who is 10-0 as a pro and represents Turkey per Sherdog. He earned his UFC spot with a 30-second knockout on Dana White's Contender Series (the UFC's prospect series) in August 2025 and has gone 3-0 in the UFC since, all by first-round finish. Nikita Krylov, 34, nicknamed "The Miner," is a veteran with a 31-12 record and 43 professional fights who has been used to test rising prospects. The fight is on the UFC 333 card at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, headlined by Volkanovski vs Evloev.
How it unfolded
- Aug 2025Yakhyaev scored a 30-second knockout win on Dana White's Contender Series to earn his UFC spot.
- Nov 22, 2025He submitted Raffael Cerqueira 33 seconds into their bout in Doha, Qatar.
- Apr 4, 2026He beat Brendson Ribeiro by rear-naked choke at the 2:52 mark of the first round in Las Vegas.
- Jun 27, 2026He knocked out Julius Walker in 8 seconds in Baku, earning his first Performance Of The Night bonus and tying for the seventh-fastest finish in UFC history.
- Oct 21, 2026UFC and Sherdog published previews of Krylov vs. Yakhyaev for UFC 333.
- Oct 23, 2026UFC published a prospect feature on Yakhyaev ahead of his fourth Octagon walk.
- Oct 24, 2026Yakhyaev is scheduled to face Nikita Krylov at UFC 333 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Who’s saying what
- Bulls
- Covers.com betting analyst Joe Osborne called it an awful bounce-back spot for Krylov and backed Yakhyaev to make another quick night of it.
- Support
- Sports Illustrated (FanNation) said the matchup looks like a clear opportunity for the undefeated Yakhyaev to add another finish.
- Caution
- Sherdog's preview said Yakhyaev's results leave unanswered questions about how he handles adversity and that his wins have not come against elite opposition.
- Analysts
- Action Network's Sean Zerillo said it is hard to tell whether Yakhyaev will keep fading in longer fights or has strengthened that part of his skillset.
- Party
- Yakhyaev said after the Baku fight he feels ready for a top-10 opponent and wants to test himself against someone with very good experience.
Still unverified
Sherdog states Yakhyaev's ability to handle adversity is an open question because his wins have not come against elite opposition; Action Network states it is hard to tell whether he will keep fading in longer fights.