Australian Colby Thicknesse has defied a \u20185-1\u2019 underdog status with a stunning undercard win at UFC 333 – with a little help from an Aussie cricketing great.<\/p>\n
Thicknesse was the biggest outsider on the card heading into his bout with previously undefeated Russian Asaf Chopurov in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n
But across three rounds, the 27-year old, who has been mentored by Alex Volkanovski for nearly a decade, took control with his grappling.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But it wasn\u2019t without controversy, with the decision to award him the first round on points leaving onlookers baffled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a bum judge. Fire this idiot now!\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201c5-1 underdog!\u201d Thicknesse said after his fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cBiggest underdog on the card. Take an undefeated 23-win-streak Russian.<\/p>\n
\u201cTook his 0 – Volk\u2019s taking Movsar\u2019s (Evloev) 0 in a couple of fights.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Thicknesse revealed post-fight that Volkanovski wasn\u2019t the only Australian sporting great in his corner.<\/p>\n