UFC 325 Preview, Predictions: Can Tai Tuivasa end growing losing streak?
To follow up on last week’s UFC 324 event, UFC 325 is set for this weekend. Another intriguing fight card is scheduled that includes 14 total fights and is highlighted by a main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes that will be for the UFC featherweight title.
UFC 325 is scheduled for Saturday, January 31 and will take place at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The early preliminary card will begin at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the preliminary card at 7 p.m. ET, and the main card at 9 p.m. ET.
UFC Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint Denis best bet: Saint Denis to Win by Finish (-135)
Our first UFC 325 pick will target the co-main event between Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC lightweight division. Saint Denis enters this fight with an MMA record of 16-3 and 8-3 in the UFC.
Saint Denis most recently beat Beneil Dariush by KO/TKO back in November 2025. Throughout his time in the UFC, he has employed a balanced fighting style, averaging 5.07 significant strikes per minute and 4.33 takedowns every 15 minutes.
Saint Denis is too heavy a favourite to back on the moneyline, so we will be looking at him to win by any finish. Of his eight wins in the UFC, all eight have been by a finish, while Hooker has five losses by finish in the UFC, including his last four losses. Therefore, based on Hooker’s vulnerability, backing Saint Denis to win by finish (-135) is our first play.
UFC Rafael Fiziev vs. Mauricio Ruffy best bet: Ruffy ML (-125)
Our second UFC 325 pick will be in the main card fight between Rafael Fiziev and Mauricio Ruffy in the UFC lightweight division. Ruffy enters this fight with an MMA record of 12-2 and 4-1 in the UFC. His most recent fight was a loss to Benoit Saint Denis by submission back in September 2025.
Though his time has been short in the UFC, Ruffy has mostly been a one-dimensional fighter, averaging 3.84 significant strikes per minute with a striking accuracy of 57 per cent. He has not shown any grappling ability, but does have a strong takedown defence of 84 per cent.
This fight is evenly matched, but both fighters are in very different forms. Ruffy is 3-1 over his last four UFC fights, while Fiziev is 1-3 over the same stretch. Therefore, even though Fiziev holds the small advantage in striking and grappling, I like Ruffy to win this fight.
UFC Tai Tuivasa vs. Tallison Teixeira best bet: Fight to End in Round 1 (-210)
Our final pick for UFC 325 will target the main card fight between Tai Tuivasa and Tallison Teixeira. Tuivasa enters this fight having lost five in a row. He has an MMA record of 15-8 and 8-8 in the UFC. As for Teixeira, he enters this fight with an MMA record of 8-1 and 2-1 in the UFC.
There has been a common theme between these two throughout their UFC careers. Five of Tuivasa’s last 10 UFC fights ended in the first round, while all three of Teixeira’s UFC fights have done the same. I’m not going to overthink it. Take this fight to end in the first round (-210) as the final play for UFC 325.
