On July 31, inside the UFC Apex, the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns with its latest episode of caged violence in UFC Vegas 33. The event isn’t heavy on star appeal and ranked talent, however, it is a deep offering of mixed martial arts action with 15 bouts planned for the event.
The card will be headlined by a matchup between top-15 middleweights. When eighth-ranked striking ace Uriah Hall faces off with 13-year MMA veteran and eleventh ranked talent Sean Strickland.
Where to watch UFC Vegas 33 on July 31
- The UFC Vegas 33 prelims kick off at 6 pm ET on both ESPN and streaming service ESPN+
- Main card action follows at 9 pm ET, exclusively on ESPN+
UFC Vegas 33 fight card
Main card (9 pm ET, ESPN+)
Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Chris Daukaus
Gloria de Paula vs. Cheyanne Buys
Bryan Barberena vs. Jason Witt
Preliminary card (6 pm ET, ESPN & ESPN+)
Mounir Lazzez vs. Niklas Stolze
Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Rafa García
Danny Chavez vs. Kai Kamaka III
Trevin Jones vs. Ronnie Lawrence
UFC Vegas 33: Appointment television fights
Uriah Hall vs. Sean Strickland
Both Hall and Strickland are on serious hot streaks as they head into the headliner of UFC Vegas 33. Hall has won four straight and scored back-to-back wins over former middleweight champions Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman in his last two. Strickland has also won four straight, and his last three came following a serious motorcycle accident that almost ended his career. Both have had strong runs in the Octagon, however, just like his nickname of “Primetime”, Hall has competed in far more big fights than his opponent.
This will be “Tarzan’s” first UFC main event, and the most dangerous striker he has faced yet. His trump card is that he can take Hall to the mat where he doesn’t want to be if things get too hot on the feet. Someone’s win streak will end in this intriguing middleweight clash.
Prediction: Hall by unanimous decision
Sam Alvey vs. Roman Kopylov
Sam Alvey has been a fan-favorite during his seven-year run in the UFC. However, that run is coming to an end if he doesn’t win on July 31. His popularity has certainly helped him avoid release from the company despite not having scored a win in his last six fights, dating back to June of 2018. In Roman Kopylov, “Smile’N” gets an opponent he has 40 more fights than, and who has been out of action for a year and a half, after losing his promotional debut in November 2019. If the 35-year-old can’t win here, his UFC days are over.
Prediction: Alvey by submission, round 2
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Chris Daukaus
The UFC Vegas 33 co-main event landed on the card after it was bumped from last week’s event because of a COVID-19 positive test. The card certainly benefits from the addition of a heavyweight battle between two talents with reputations for ending fights early. The question in Shamil Abdurakhimov versus Chris Daukaus is which will win out: The Russian’s well-rounded skills and 11-fight experience advantage, or the American’s power-punching youth?
Prediction: Daukaus by unanimous decision