UFC 333 Prelims Picks & Predictions – Best Bets Include Santos vs Oki
By Chris Amberley in Mixed Martial Arts News
Published:
- The UFC 333 prelims feature nine fights today, with the early prelims starting at 10 am ET
- My five best bets target competitive moneylines rather than the card’s heaviest favorites
- See my expert UFC 333 prelims picks and predictions below, with best bets including Santos vs Oki
UFC 333 takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi today, with nine prelim fights before the main card at 2 pm ET. The early prelims start at 10 am ET, with the regular prelims following at noon ET.
This slate includes Kody Steele vs Noah Gugnon, plus Daniel Santos vs Bolaji Oki, where the betting landscape offers the most value.
Instead of eating massive juice on heavy favorites, I am targeting spots with more reasonable prices. Let’s dive into my favorite UFC 333 prelims picks, predictions and best bets, headlined by Santos vs Oki.
UFC 333 Prelims Odds
Odds via BetMGM as of October 23, 2026. Check out the best UFC betting apps for UFC 333.
In the UFC 333 prelims odds, Asaf Chopurov at -588 and Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev at -556 are the biggest favorites, but laying that kind of chalk is a substantial risk for a small return.
Instead, I am circling tighter matchups like Santos vs Oki and Abus Magomedov vs Cam Rowston, both at -125/+105.
UFC 333 Prelims Predictions
My UFC 333 prelims predictions for the other four fights are winner calls only, not recommended wagers.
Nurullo Aliev at +105 is a mild upset call, while Iasmin Lucindo, Asaf Chopurov and Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev all carry too much juice at -400 or longer to actually wager on.
UFC 333 Prelims Picks
Steele vs Gugnon Prediction
- UFC 333 Best Bet #1: Kody Steele Moneyline (-167 at BetMGM)
I love the value we are getting on Steele in this spot without eating massive juice. He is 8-1 with six wins inside the distance, four by knockout and two by submission.
His jiu-jitsu style was on display in his last outing on May 2, when he submitted Dom Mar Fan in the first round at 3:56. His finishing ability in two phases is why my Steele vs Gugnon prediction favors the more proven grappler.
Best Bet: Santos vs Oki Prediction
- UFC 333 Best Bet #2: Daniel Santos Moneyline (-125 at BetMGM)
Santos brings a relentless pace, landing 5.15 significant strikes per minute while averaging 2.60 takedowns per 15 minutes. That mix gives him two ways to win at 14-3, with seven knockouts and two submissions.
His three most recent fights were wins, stopping Doo Ho Choi by second-round TKO on May 16 and Joo Sang Yoo by second-round TKO last October after a unanimous decision over Jeong Yeong Lee. At an accessible -125 price tag, Santos vs Oki is my favorite UFC 333 prelims prediction.
Magomedov vs Rowston Prediction
- UFC 333 Best Bet #3: Abus Magomedov Moneyline (-125 at BetMGM)
Magomedov is another of my top value bets on this preliminary card. He is 29-7-1 with 14 knockouts, eight submissions and 16 first-round finishes.
He also averages 2.5 takedowns per 15 minutes, and his most recent win came by first-round submission of Michal Oleksiejczuk at 3:25 on June 27. That early finishing threat makes the -125 moneyline in Magomedov vs Rowston one of my preferred UFC 333 prelims bets.
Vagaev vs Malkoun Prediction
- UFC 333 Best Bet #4: Abubakar Vagaev Moneyline (-154 at BetMGM)
Vagaev has won 20 of his 25 victories by decision. That record supports my Vagaev vs Malkoun prediction: wrestling and positional control give him a way to bank rounds at -154.
My Vagaev vs Malkoun prediction rests on him making his grappling matter rather than letting Malkoun dictate the exchanges.
Murzakanov vs Reyes Prediction
- UFC 333 Best Bet #5: Azamat Murzakanov Moneyline (-196 at BetMGM)
Murzakanov has 12 knockouts among his 16 wins, including 10 first-round finishes overall. His power is the key to my Murzakanov vs Reyes prediction, making every exchange dangerous for Reyes.
At -196, Murzakanov costs more than the near-even choices above, so size the stake accordingly. My Murzakanov vs Reyes prediction backs his ability to create the more consequential moments.
Ready to tail these picks? Grab a BetMGM promo code and get your UFC 333 prelims bets in before the early prelims start.
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
