Australian Colby Thicknesse has defied a ‘5-1’ underdog status with a stunning undercard win at UFC 333 – with a little help from an Aussie cricketing great.

Thicknesse was the biggest outsider on the card heading into his bout with previously undefeated Russian Asaf Chopurov in Abu Dhabi.

But across three rounds, the 27-year old, who has been mentored by Alex Volkanovski for nearly a decade, took control with his grappling.

Despite a cut above the eye, Thicknesse did enough to win, with the judges awarding him a split decision victory to take his career record to 10-1.

But it wasn’t without controversy, with the decision to award him the first round on points leaving onlookers baffled.

“What a bum judge. Fire this idiot now!” MMA writer Adam Martin wrote on X of the decision by judge David Lethaby to give the Australian the round – the only one of the three to do so.

Regardless, it was a fitting win given his relationship with Volkanovski, who would make history of his own with an emphatic TKO win over Movsar Evloev in the main event to retain his featherweight title.

“5-1 underdog!” Thicknesse said after his fight.

“Biggest underdog on the card. Take an undefeated 23-win-streak Russian.

“Took his 0 – Volk’s taking Movsar’s (Evloev) 0 in a couple of fights.”

But Thicknesse revealed post-fight that Volkanovski wasn’t the only Australian sporting great in his corner.

Prior to the bout, the bantamweight came face to face with cricket champion Brett Lee, who was in Abu Dhabi for UFC 333 – and even batted against one of the most fearsome fast bowlers the sport has seen.

“Shout out Brett Lee – Weet-bix guy, like, Aussie icon,” Thicknesse told Main Event of the meeting, and referencing Lee’s long-term sponsorship with the Australian cereal.

“I met him at the Hilton, and I was like ‘This is so surreal’ – and then two hours later, he’s bowling me some fast balls to get my reflexes on.

“This whole week’s been like a dream come true. Everything to do with Volk, to meeting some Aussie sporting icons, to my first win overseas, biggest upset of my life.

“What a week!”

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Thicknesse was the only one of three Australians to join Volkanovski on the winners’ list from the undercard.

Cam Rowston was grappled into submission in the first round by Abusupiyan Magomedov, while Jacob Malkoun lost by decision to Abubakar Vagaev despite landing 106 significant strikes to 71.



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