The bantamweight division witnessed a compelling test of wills on Saturday night at UFC 333, where promotional newcomer Asaf Chopurov put his unblemished professional record on the line against Australia’s Colby Thicknesse. For Chopurov, the evening marked his highly anticipated debut under the Ultimate Fighting Championship banner, carrying with him a pristine 11-0 record and the prestige of a former UAE Warriors bantamweight championship. Across the Octagon stood Thicknesse, a gritty competitor looking to build momentum after securing back-to-back victories following a setback in his promotional debut against Alexandre Topuria. What followed was a three-round, high-paced tactical battle that tested the endurance, grappling acumen, and striking versatility of both athletes from the opening bell to the final horn.
The fight commenced with an immediate sense of urgency as both bantamweights engaged in early exchanges before quickly tying up against the cage. Thicknesse established himself as the aggressor during the early wrestling sequences, repeatedly initiating grappling exchanges and hunting for takedowns. However, Chopurov showcased strong defensive instincts, repeatedly denying Thicknesse the canvas and anchoring his base. As the round progressed, Chopurov successfully reversed the positional battle, creating separation and landing a clean, crisp shot upon the break. Undeterred, Thicknesse attempted to close the distance once more, directly into the path of a flush knee followed by a punishing body kick from the debuting star.
As the frantic pace of the first frame continued, the grappling exchanges shifted dramatically. During a chaotic scramble, Thicknesse threatened with a tight guillotine choke, but Chopurov maintained his composure, defended the submission attempt intelligently, and successfully maneuvered his way out, allowing Thicknesse back to his feet. Seizing another opportunity, Thicknesse immediately re-engaged the guillotine, this time pulling guard to drag the fight to the mat. Once again, Chopurov proved equal to the task, escaping the submission attempt and resuming his forward offensive pressure. As Chopurov closed the distance later in the round, Thicknesse absorbed good counter-strikes before executing a slick sweep utilizing a kimura grip. Chopurov ultimately had the final word in the opening frame, closing out the round with a sharp, stinging elbow from inside the clinch that underscored the competitive nature of the bout.
Entering the second round, Chopurov wasted no time establishing his authority, immediately stepping forward to apply sustained pressure on his opponent. He punctuated his forward march by landing another slick knee upon entering the clinch, followed quickly by a chopping elbow as the fighters broke apart. Thicknesse, recognizing the danger of letting Chopurov dictate the entire flow of the bout, worked diligently to disrupt his opponent’s rhythm. He initiated frequent takedown attempts, though he continued to encounter difficulties finishing them against Chopurov’s stout defense. In addition to his wrestling attempts, Thicknesse effectively utilized multi-strike combinations whenever Chopurov advanced, preventing the former UAE Warriors champion from completely taking over the action.
Midway through the second stanza, Thicknesse found a home for a clean right hand squarely on Chopurov’s chin, using the impact to drive his adversary against the safety fencing of the cage. Upon separation, Chopurov seamlessly resumed his relentless forward pressure, orchestrating an attack featuring dangerous elbows in close quarters. He briefly managed to drag the fight to the mat, but Thicknesse maintained exceptional situational awareness, utilizing wrist control to nullify the offensive potential of the position. Not one to simply absorb pressure, Thicknesse answered with a crisp combination that flowed directly into a takedown attempt of his own. However, in his eagerness to secure the position, Thicknesse became slightly overzealous, inadvertently conceding a takedown to Chopurov. The second round drew to a close with Thicknesse landing yet another sharp elbow, a tactical maneuver that likely evened the scorecards heading into the crucial third and final frame.
With the fight hanging in the balance, Thicknesse opened the final round with a high volume of strikes, pressing the action from the outset. Chopurov, however, demonstrated a high fight IQ by seamlessly mixing in his wrestling to stifle Thicknesse’s offensive momentum. Chopurov initiated a successful takedown and, despite facing difficulties maintaining dominant control on the canvas, managed to open a visible cut on Thicknesse before allowing him to stand back up. Demonstrating his own confidence, Chopurov quickly dragged Thicknesse right back to the mat with a swift sweep, only to surprisingly welcome a return to the feet moments later.
As the championship minutes ticked away, Thicknesse pursued his own offensive wrestling, attempting an outside trip from a body lock. Chopurov met the effort with exceptional balance and sound defensive posture, nullifying the attempt. Returning to striking range, Thicknesse timed a clean head kick precisely as Chopurov dove for another takedown. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, Chopurov quickly let Thicknesse back up, only to momentarily slip while throwing a kick of his own. Thicknesse, however, was unable to capitalize on the brief misstep as Chopurov exploded vertically with remarkable athleticism back to his feet. With the clock winding down in what had been a grueling contest, Chopurov secured one final takedown to punctuate his efforts, and both men continued to trade blows in a frantic flurry until the final horn sounded to signal the end of the bout.
When the scorecards were tallied and delivered to the referee, the judges’ verdict reflected just how closely contested the bantamweight matchup had been. All three judges scored the bout identically, rendering a split decision that favored the experience of the Australian contender.
Official Result: Colby Thicknesse defeated Asaf Chopurov by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
