Dominick Reyes Knocks Out Azamat Murzakanov in Round 1 at UFC 333
Dominick Reyes earned a first-round knockout victory over Azamat Murzakanov on the preliminary card of UFC 333 on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The former title challenger stopped the ranked light heavyweight at 2:40 of the opening round with a head kick and punches.
Reyes entered the bout as an underdog with a 16-5 professional record and a 10-5 mark in the UFC. Murzakanov arrived at 16-1 overall and 6-1 inside the promotion, ranked inside the top ten of the light heavyweight division. Both men are southpaw strikers known for knockout power.
The fight ended early when Reyes landed a head kick that dropped Murzakanov, followed by punches that forced the stoppage. UFC’s official account described the result as an enormous victory for Reyes.
The stoppage came before the preliminary card concluded and added another finish to a night already featuring multiple early endings.
The win improves Reyes to 17-5 overall and 11-5 in the UFC. It is his second consecutive victory after a split decision over Johnny Walker at UFC 327 in April.
Murzakanov drops to 16-2 and 6-2 in the promotion, suffering his second consecutive loss after a third-round TKO to Paulo Costa earlier this year.
Reyes, nicknamed “The Devastator,” has mixed first-round knockouts with longer fights throughout his career. He previously challenged for the light heavyweight title and has faced multiple top contenders.
Murzakanov, known as “The Professional,” had built a strong UFC record with first-round finishes before the Costa defeat and entered the bout as a favorite.
The knockout gives Reyes a significant win over a ranked opponent and restores momentum after a loss to Carlos Ulberg in 2025. Murzakanov’s recent results now include consecutive stoppage losses, raising questions about his durability against high-level strikers.
The light heavyweight division remains competitive with several ranked fighters still active on the card and in the rankings.
Reyes will look to build on the knockout when the UFC books his next opponent. Murzakanov returns to the drawing board after a short night against a taller southpaw.
The preliminary card continues in Abu Dhabi with the main card still ahead, headlined by title fights involving Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev.
