ABU DHABI – Ramazan Temirov wants to prove that he is the No. 1 contender at UFC 333.
Temirov (20-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) meets Lone’er Kavanagh (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) in the main flyweight event at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island (Paramount+).
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UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van is expected to make his next title defense against Manel Kape in early 2027, but Temirov wants to enter that conversation.
With 13 first-round finishes to his name – including another title challenger Steve Erceg in July, Temirov is confident he can dethrone Van.
“Joshua Van is a guy who wants to hit the feet, and we think he’s going to have a good fight,” Temirov told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at UFC 333 on Wednesday. “I’m always ready for anyone who’s going to be in front of me. I don’t think there’s anyone in my division who is the most dangerous, so it seems like we’re fighting and it’s going to be good. When I get there, we’ll see how it goes, but I’m going to go.”
Temirov said about Kavanagh after Erceg. He sees the style matchup shaping up for another exciting performance that elevates his status as a 125-pounder.
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“I’m so happy that I could ask for a fight, and I hope I’m going to have a good fight and show good skills in this fight,” said Temirov. “After the last fight he did a good job and he stands at the highest level above me so that’s why I chose him so that we can both show that we are excellent in the art of fighting, and I hope it will be good. Inshallah, like the last fight, I will perform my best and of course you will see in this fight in the fight the others so, I will a lot. “I will not fight you in this fight to show you a lot.
This article first appeared on MMA Junkie: Ramazan Temirov: UFC 333 win will be the foundation for Joshua Van’s title fight