Lightweight action at UFC 325 pitted Muay Thai forward Rafael Fiziev against Fighting Nerd team member Mauricio Ruffy.
A week earlier, Jean Silva had gotten The Fighting Nerds back on track. Ruffy was next out of the Brazilian camp, looking to bounce back from a loss to Benoit Saint-Denis.
Fiziev recorded a victory over Ignacio Bahamondes in June.
Fiziev held the center early, while Ruffy stayed outside and made lateral moves to stay out of range. He got a little too close to the fence and had to run away and reset. Fiziev lunged forward swinging and Ruffy escaped. An outside leg kick landed for Fiziev, and Ruffy flapped a kick, more of a knee. Fiziev looked sharp for the most part, while Ruffy seemed to be looking to overtake his opponent on the way in or with a counter. Ruffy fired a few hooks that found the mark. He followed with a head kick, blocked, with a punch behind it.
Ruffy had a much better back half in the opening round. In the second, Fiziev landed leg kicks and Ruffy again stayed on the outside. His legs started to show damage and Fiziev’s leg kicks piled up. Fiziev did a good job cutting off the cage, trapping Ruffy and keeping him in range. Ruffy flashed a right hand and Fiziev fired a spinning kick high. It slipped off, but was quickly back in position.
The round was fairly even, the pair trading a few shows, until a right hand rocked Fiziev! Ruffy chased and landed another, and Fiziev went down! Less than a minute into round two, and Ruffy was all over Fiziev, who was still on skates. He staggered back to the fence, Ruffy landed a few more punches and the referee waved it away!
An impressive win for Mauricio Ruffy, who gets back in the win column and continues a solid start for The Fighting Nerds in 2026.
Official result: Mauricio Ruffy final. Rafael Fiziev by technical knockout, round 2, 4:30 PM
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