TLDR
- Mauricio Ruffy defeated Rafael Fiziev via second-round TKO at 4:30 at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia
- Fiziev controlled the first round before Ruffy landed a devastating straight right hand in round two
- Ruffy switched training camps after losing to Benoit Saint-Denis, joining Alexander Volkanovski’s team
- The Brazilian dedicated his victory to his late brother during the post-fight interview
- Ruffy earned a $100,000 performance bonus while Fiziev suffered his fourth loss in five fights
Sources: MMA Fighting | MMA Mania | Sherdog
Mauricio Ruffy stopped Rafael Fiziev in the second round at UFC 325 on Saturday night at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The Brazilian lightweight bounced back from his first UFC loss with a devastating knockout that came at 4:30 of round two.
Fiziev controlled the opening round by walking Ruffy down and landing clean strikes. The Muay Thai specialist used his speed and accuracy to find his target, including a hard left hook that got through Ruffy’s defense.
The 32-year-old Fiziev also chopped away at Ruffy’s lead leg with low kicks that left visible damage. However, Ruffy started to find success late in the first round with a quick head kick and several stiff jabs.
Ruffy Takes Control in Round Two
The second round began with Fiziev continuing to attack Ruffy’s body and chase him around the cage. But Ruffy kept working his jab down the middle while Fiziev struggled to put together consistent combinations.
Ruffy then landed a devastating straight right hand that sent Fiziev flying across the canvas. The veteran lightweight was hurt badly and tried to recover by getting back to his feet and attempting to grapple.
Ruffy pinned Fiziev against the cage and unleashed a brutal barrage of ground-and-pound punches. The referee stopped the fight as Fiziev absorbed shot after shot with no way to defend himself.
The victory improved Ruffy’s record to 13-2 overall. Fiziev dropped to 13-5 after suffering his fourth loss in his last five fights.
Training Camp Changes Pay Off
Ruffy had lost his previous fight to Benoit Saint-Denis in a one-sided decision. Following that defeat, the Brazilian made a major change by leaving The Fighting Nerds gym to train with Alexander Volkanovski’s team.
The switch in training camps and coaches paid immediate dividends. Ruffy executed his game plan after struggling early against Fiziev’s pressure and leg kicks.
After the fight, Ruffy called for bigger opportunities in his post-fight interview. He asked UFC President Dana White and Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell about fighting at the White House and mentioned potential matchups with Paddy Pimblett and Conor McGregor.
Ruffy dedicated the victory to his late brother during his post-fight interview. The emotional moment came after one of the biggest wins of his UFC career.
Fiziev entered the bout looking to build on a recent win over Ignacio Bahamondes. The knockout loss continued a difficult three-year stretch that included two competitive losses to Justin Gaethje and a serious knee injury during a fight with Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Vegas 79.
Ruffy earned a $100,000 performance bonus for the knockout. The finish was one of the most brutal stoppages on the UFC 325 card.
