After tasting defeat for the primary time within the UFC octagon, Mauricio Ruffy delivered an emphatic response to doubters on Saturday night at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The Brazilian striker’s blistering second-round knockout of Rafael Fiziev at UFC 325 was precisely the statement victory needed to reignite his lightweight trajectory and announce his arrival as a legitimate contender within the division’s upper echelon.
MAURICIO RUFFY KNOCKS OUT RAFAEL FIZIEV IN ROUND 2!!🤯 pic.twitter.com/iaIgdyoiAD
— The MMA Archives (@Themmaarchives) February 1, 2026
What made Ruffy’s performance particularly impressive was his ability to weather an early storm from the Kazakh veteran. Fiziev got here out aggressively in round one, pressing Ruffy against the cage and landing a series of methodical calf kicks that gave the impression to be stalling the momentum of his opponent. The Fighting Nerds representative found himself largely on the defensive through much of the opening frame, trying to find counters and opportunities to have interaction more actively in exchanges. By the close of round one, it remained an uncomfortably close contest—Fiziev’s early aggression threatened to regulate the narrative.
But Ruffy’s resilience and composure proved decisive in round two. Because the second stanza unfolded, the Brazilian shifted gears dramatically, picking up the pace with effective counterstriking while systematically dismantling the leg kick attack that had worked so well for Fiziev early. Despite Fiziev’s continued pressure, his offensive output deteriorated, failing to generate the identical volume and force that characterised his opening salvo.
With roughly ninety seconds remaining within the round, Ruffy unleashed his moment. A thunderous right hand—an ideal expression of timing, distance management, and raw power—caught Fiziev flush and sent him crashing to the canvas. Your complete arena felt the impact as Fiziev went down hard. The veteran managed to scramble back to his feet momentarily, desperately attempting to survive through grappling exchanges, but his legs betrayed him. As Fiziev deteriorated on unsteady foundation, Ruffy capitalized with a relentless barrage of ground-and-pound until referee intervention mercifully halted the competition at 4:30 of round two.
For Ruffy, the victory represents excess of a single win. It’s a whole resurrection following his September loss to Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC Paris and validation of his decision to coach with Alexander Volovski and his elite team. The 12-2 record now reflects a fighter who was merely interrupted by one setback, not derailed by it. With 11 victories achieved through knockout or TKO, Ruffy has entered dangerous form heading into 2026.
Fiziev, meanwhile, might want to regroup. The 32-year-old’s comeback narrative has unexpectedly derailed following his recent victory over Ignacio Bahamondes. The lightweight division waits for nobody, and stepping back into title contention from this position will prove significantly more difficult.