This is the UFC 325 live blog for Rafael Fiziev vs. Mauricio Ruffy, the main card lightweight bout Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
Fiziev is currently tied for the No. 11 spot at 155 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings.
Coming off of a much-needed win over Ignacio Bahamondes, Fiziev (13-4) now looks to make the long, arduous climb back into title contention. Fiziev had lost three straight fights before beating Bahamondes, including an injury loss to Mateusz Gamrot that forced him out of action for 17 months. Now back on the winning track, Fiziev aims to fend off Ruffy and earn himself a high-ranked opponent his next time out.
Ruffy (12-2) suffered his first UFC loss in September when he tapped to a Benoit Saint Denis face crank at UFC Paris. That result has done little to dull the buzz around the Fighting Nerds striker, who scored the one of the best knockouts of 2025 when he floored veteran King Green with a spinning wheel kick. Ruffy has won 11 fights via KO/TKO and is dead set on adding Fiziev to his highlight reel.
Check out the UFC 325 live blog for Rafael Fiziev vs. Mauricio Ruffy below.
Strikers delight up next, let’s go!
This one is almost too close to call (was the toughest one for me, that’s for sure). Fiziev a slight favorite at -124, Ruffy can be had at +106, per FanDuel.
Both fighters taking a patient approach. Fiziev with an outside leg kick. Lunging left from Fiziev, he goes in to grapple and Ruffy circles out of trouble. Hard leg kick by Fiziev. Knee up the middle from Ruffy, but Fiziev has that scouted. Fiziev rips the body. After a little grappling against the fence, it’s back to the center of the octagon.
They exchange punches. Fiziev methodically cutting off the cage. Jab from Fiziev. Nice right from Ruffy gets through the defenses. He leads with a left and clips Fiziev with a right on the button. Fiziev blocks a high kick, but Ruffy follows with a quick right. Close round with about a minute to go.
Body kick from Fiziev, Ruffy answers with a jab. Fiziev to the body. Step-in elbow from Ruffy, Fiziev blocked, but a Ruffy jab gets through. Right hand from Ruffy. Could go either way.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Ruffy.
Body kick from Fiziev. Those legs are getting loose. Ruffy throws a spin kick to the body. Fiziev with kicks to the leg and body. Counter left from Ruffy after he takes a body kick. Jab battle, Ruffy looks to have the edge. They trade jabs. Ruffy with a body shot as he hops in and out. Ruffy using that jab to keep Fiziev back. Step-back right hand scores for Ruffy, that was sweet.
Wild spinning kick from Fiziev, actually made a little contact. Fiziev punches the body. Jab from Fiziev. Counter left gives Fiziev pause. Steady jab work from Ruffy. Big right wobbles Fiziev! He’s fighting to recover, but he looks dazed. Ruffy swinging for the fences and he connects sending Fiziev back down again. Referee Dan Movahedi has to step in to stop this.
Official result: Mauricio Ruffy def. Rafael Fiziev via TKO (strikes) (R2, 4:30)
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