Kavanagh vs Temirov: UFC 333 flyweight preview as both chase a title run

Lone'er Kavanagh and Ramazan Temirov meet at flyweight on the UFC 333 main card at Etihad Arena on Saturday 24 October. UFC.com lists Kavanagh at No. 6 and Temirov at No. 10 in the division.

Kavanagh, 27, is from London and trains at Great Britain Top Team. He is 10-2 and earned his UFC contract with a first-round knockout on Dana White's Contender Series in 2024. His biggest win came in February, when he stepped into a five-round main event in Mexico City and beat former champion Brandon Moreno on points. In July he lost to Brandon Royval by rear-naked choke in the third round at UFC 329.

Temirov, 29, was born in Karshi, Uzbekistan, and is 20-3. He is unbeaten in three UFC fights: a first-round stoppage of CJ Vergara in October 2024, a decision over Charles Johnson in March 2025, and a knockout of former title challenger Steve Erceg at 4:21 of the first round in Abu Dhabi on 25 July. Cageside Press noted that the Erceg fight was his first after a 17-month doping suspension, and that it was his 11th first-round finish.

There is a shared opponent. Charles Johnson knocked Kavanagh out in the second round in Shanghai in August 2025, while Temirov beat Johnson over three rounds a few months earlier. After the Erceg win, Khaleej Times reported that Temirov called for a shot at champion Joshua Van.

The styles set up clearly. Kavanagh has won most of his UFC fights on the scorecards, while Temirov has finished two of three inside the opening round, so the early minutes matter. Temirov already knows the Etihad Arena cage, having fought there less than three months before this card.

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Source: UFC.com: UFC 333, UFC.com: Ramazan Temirov, Wikipedia: Lone'er Kavanagh, Cageside Press, Khaleej Times