Abubakar Vagaev earned a unanimous decision over Jacob Malkoun at UFC 333 by combining hard right hands with repeated takedowns. Malkoun’s sharp jab and ability to get back to his feet kept the fight close, but all three judges scored it for Vagaev.

By the Numbers
  • 3 rounds
  • 29-28 for Vagaev on all 3 scorecards
Yes, But

Vagaev secured takedowns, but he struggled to keep Malkoun down or do sustained damage on the ground. Malkoun’s jab repeatedly landed and his scrambles made Vagaev’s wrestling less effective as the fight wore on.

Bottom Line

Vagaev did enough with his power and takedowns to win, but Malkoun’s resistance made it a narrow, hard-fought decision.