Mauricio Ruffy vs Rafael Fiziev Full Fight – UFC 325

22
Published on July 1, 2026 by

Mauricio Ruffy and Rafael Fiziev delivered one of the most anticipated striking battles on the UFC 325 main card in Sydney. Both men are elite kickboxers with explosive finishing power, making the contest a tactical chess match filled with sudden bursts of violence. Ruffy entered looking to rebound from a previous defeat, while Fiziev hoped to re-establish himself among the lightweight elite after several difficult years.

The opening round was fought almost entirely at striking range. Fiziev relied on his trademark stance switches, lightning-fast combinations, and punishing calf kicks to slow Ruffy’s movement. Ruffy answered with sharp jabs, long straight rights, and constant lateral movement, refusing to remain stationary for Fiziev’s explosive counters. Several exchanges brought the crowd to its feet as both fighters landed clean body kicks and heavy punches, but neither was willing to overcommit early against such dangerous opposition. Fiziev enjoyed success with quick blitzes inside the pocket, while Ruffy repeatedly interrupted those attacks with accurate counters that gradually began finding their mark.

By the second round, the pace increased dramatically. Fiziev pressed forward with greater urgency, attempting to overwhelm Ruffy with combinations and spinning attacks. Ruffy, however, remained composed, slipping punches and answering with crisp counters that visibly slowed the Azerbaijani striker. As the round progressed, Ruffy began controlling the distance, repeatedly landing hard straight right hands and powerful left hooks whenever Fiziev entered range.

The decisive sequence came with approximately thirty seconds remaining in the second round. Ruffy perfectly timed a crushing overhand right that caught Fiziev clean and sent him stumbling backward. Sensing the finish, the Brazilian surged forward with relentless pressure, unloading a barrage of accurate punches against the fence. Fiziev attempted to defend and fire back, but the unanswered strikes continued to accumulate until the referee stepped between them, waving off the contest at **4:30 of Round 2**. Ruffy celebrated an emphatic technical knockout victory after one of the finest striking performances of his UFC career.

The victory immediately restored Ruffy’s momentum in the lightweight division and earned him a Performance of the Night bonus. It showcased not only his knockout power but also his patience, defensive awareness, and ability to outthink one of the division’s most accomplished strikers before producing a spectacular finish. For Fiziev, the loss was another setback despite a competitive performance through much of the fight, while Ruffy announced himself as a legitimate contender capable of defeating elite opposition on one of the UFC’s biggest stages.

Mauricio Ruffy

Rafael Fiziev Videos

Category Tag

Add your comment

Your email address will not be published.