UFC on ABC 8 – Irina Alekseeva vs Klaudia Syguła – Full Fight Replay Available Today

A fierce clash unfolded in Baku’s Crystal Hall as two resilient bantamweights, Irina Alekseeva and Klaudia Syguła, squared off at UFC on ABC 8 on June 20, 2025. Both women entered coming off setbacks—Alekseeva making her long-awaited return from a one-year suspension, and Syguła eager to rebound from a tough UFC debut.

Alekseeva, dubbed “Russian Ronda,” thrives in the grappling trenches. In the opening frames, she immediately took the center cage, pressing forward to cut off Syguła. Her game plan was clear: chain takedowns and dominate in top position. Syguła, trained at American Top Team, countered with sharp southpaw strikes and agile footwork, but each attempt to keep the fight standing was met with aggressive transitions to groundwork.

By the second round, Syguła’s commitment showed—she opened with crisp combinations and a few heavy leather shots—but Alekseeva responded by bringing the fight back to the mat, where control time tipped the balance. The Russian’s veteran grappling smothered Syguła’s striking rhythm, forcing the Polish fighter to expend energy just to stay defensive.

The final round felt like a test of wills. Syguła attacked in spurts, landing stinging counters, but Alekseeva’s relentless wrestling kept her grounded. No flashy finishes—just relentless positional dominance and grinding control until the final bell.

When the judges tallied the scorecards, Alekseeva earned a unanimous decision win, validating her return and reaffirming her grappling pedigree. Syguła, despite an incomplete night, demonstrated growth and resilience—managing to avoid early submission trouble while showcasing crisp boxing and determination .

Alekseeva made a statement beyond mere victory—her return after suspension was convincing, and her grappling merciless.
Syguła’s durability and poise proved that her debut loss was not indicative of her ceiling; she’s one to watch in future UFC bantamweight matchups.

On a landmark UFC night in Azerbaijan, the bout highlighted an age-old MMA narrative: grappling dominance versus striking ambition. Alekseeva walked away on top, but Syguła’s heart and technical flashes promise that this isn’t the last we’ll see of the Polish southpaw.