Dominick Reyes’ first-round knockout resets the betting case around his offense — not his durability

Dominick Reyes turned a plus-money opportunity into a first-round knockout at UFC 333, stopping Azamat Murzakanov at 2:40, as reported by Cageside Press, and improving his record to 17-5.

Cageside Press reported that Reyes began by attacking the legs, continued kicking after Murzakanov switched stances, then hurt him with a head kick before a left hand and ground strikes forced the stoppage. That sequence matters more than the broad claim that Reyes is “back.” It shows how the finish developed: damage downstairs changed Murzakanov’s reactions, and Reyes converted the opening upstairs.

The verified pre-fight moneyline snapshot made the result significant for bettors. Reyes was available between +165 and +177 across seven books, while Murzakanov ranged from -195 to -225. Anyone who backed Reyes outright received a substantial plus-money return, but the larger question is whether the mechanism behind the upset should alter how his next fight is priced.

The finish extended a real offensive pattern

Reyes has now won four of his past five fights. Three of those victories ended by knockout: Nikita Krylov in the first round, Anthony Smith in the second and Murzakanov in the first. His other win in that stretch was a three-round split decision over Johnny Walker. The lone defeat came by first-round knockout against Carlos Ulberg.

That run supports a clear but narrow conclusion. Reyes remains capable of creating decisive damage early, and the Murzakanov result was not an isolated finish detached from his recent form. It was his third knockout win across his past five appearances and his second first-round knockout win during that span.

The broader archive points in the same direction without making the sample look cleaner than it is. Across 16 archived bouts, Reyes has 11 wins: seven by knockout or technical knockout, one by submission and three by decision. Eight of those 11 victories ended inside the distance, producing a 73% finish rate on wins within that archive.