UFC 325 Review: Paramount and UFC proves Again Why They’re Different (but press conferences are still horrible and we know who to blame)
By David Potter (now back to back Media Personality of the Year, winning the award from the tropicana in atlantic city nj, ironically infront of Bill Wallace, the first commentator in ufc history. I love my community and thank you for the support)
Now lets get into it.
UFC 325 wasn’t just a good card. It was a 4 out of 5 event that reminded everyone why MMA works when the right people are aligned — the right fighters, the right promotion, and finally, the right broadcast partner that actually understands what it’s presenting.
Paramount and CBS deserve real credit here. This wasn’t a cash-grab presentation. This was respect. Attention to detail. Broadcast pacing that didn’t insult the audience. A network that looks relieved — almost grateful — to finally have a promotion worthy of its ambition, talent pool, and decades of television experience.
After years of failed partnerships that weren’t their fault — promotions that couldn’t match CBS’s standards — they finally have one that can. And it showed.
I saw the names on this card, top to bottom. Marketable. Likable. Relatable. Dangerous. Endless talent. And I said it out loud before the first punch was thrown:
“Yep. Wins and losses aren’t guaranteed, but the performances will be.”
Both MMA fans and casual viewers got their worlds rocked. It’s nice to be right about that.
And once again, combat sports reminded everyone: you can play every sport with one ball, but combat sports take two. Symbolically speaking. Because the women always fucking deliver.
Quillan Salkilld vs. Jamie Mullarkey
Result: Salkilld def. Mullarkey via rear-naked choke, Round 1 (3:02)
Betting: Mullarkey entered as the slight favorite
Jamie Mullarkey came in with experience, UFC miles, and that quiet confidence veterans carry when they believe they’ve seen it all.
Quillan Salkilld came in as the underdog with one very specific idea: don’t let this stay a fight.
Round one starts and the contrast is immediate. Mullarkey wants to strike, establish rhythm, get comfortable. Salkilld wants his back like rent is due.
The moment Salkilld gets behind him, this stops being competitive. Hooks in. Hand fighting. Mullarkey doing everything right — except escaping.
The choke tightens. The tap comes fast.
Tallison Teixeira vs. Tai Tuivasa
Result: Teixeira def. Tuivasa via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Betting: Tuivasa entered as the favorite
This was technique versus vibes. Planning versus faith. Control versus shoeys.
Tai Tuivasa had the crowd, the power, and the belief that one punch solves everything. Tallison Teixeira had a skillset that doesn’t care about crowd noise.
Round 1: Teixeira clinches early. Tai swings with bad intentions. No knockout lands. That’s already a problem.
Round 2: More control. More positional work. Tuivasa lands bombs that make the arena shake — and the judges keep writing.
Round 3: Tai nearly steals it late, because that’s always the threat. Teixeira survives, stays disciplined, and closes the round.
The decision goes to Teixeira. Right call.
Mauricio Ruffy vs. Rafael Fiziev
Result: Ruffy def. Fiziev via TKO, Round 2 (4:30)
Betting: Fiziev entered as the clear favorite
This fight was violent in a way that erases narratives.
Fiziev came in ranked, respected, technically elite — the safe pick. Mauricio Ruffy came in as the underdog with power that doesn’t need permission.
Round 1: Fiziev looks sharp. Movement. Leg kicks. Clean technique. Everyone nods. This is going “as expected.”
Round 2: Ruffy stops respecting him. One clean right hand lands. Fiziev wobbles. The follow-ups force the ref to save him.
This wasn’t luck. This wasn’t chaos. This was precision.
Co-Main Event: Benoît Saint Denis vs. Dan Hooker
Result: Saint Denis def. Hooker via TKO (ground-and-pound), Round 2 (4:45)
Betting: Hooker entered as a slight favorite
Dan Hooker is tough in a way that defies logic. That’s never been in question.
Benoît Saint Denis fights like suffering is part of his conditioning program.
Round 1: Hooker strikes well. Saint Denis pressures like a horror movie villain that doesn’t run — he walks, slowly, inevitably.
Round 2: Grappling exchanges turn ugly. Saint Denis secures top position and refuses to leave. Ground-and-pound follows. The ref steps in.
Hooker didn’t quit. He was overwhelmed.
Main Event: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes II
Result: Volkanovski def. Lopes via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45)
Betting: Volkanovski entered as a heavy favorite
This wasn’t flashy. This was grown-man MMA.
Diego Lopes came in explosive, creative, dangerous early. Alexander Volkanovski came in with a plan and a resume that demands patience.
Round 1: Lopes fast. Volk calm. Data collected.
Round 2: Volk controls space. Counters land. Lopes swings harder.
Round 3: Championship pacing shows. Lopes slows. Volk doesn’t.
Round 4: This is where contenders usually break. Volk tightens control.
Round 5: Pure management. No risk. No chaos. Ownership.
Eight title defenses. Ties José Aldo.
This wasn’t a war. This was confirmation.
Final Thoughts
The fights delivered. The broadcast delivered. The fighters fought with their hearts and souls.
The press conferences — pre-fight and post-fight — were the drizzling shits, as always, doing absolutely nothing to explain to people at home why they should care about what they’re watching. Thankfully, online chaos and Nina Drama exist to make up for that and move the needle.
I don’t blame Dana White. He dedicated his entire life to making people love a sport when no one was watching — except maybe me and two other people. The man is a hero of mine.
I don’t blame the UFC. For better or worse, they are a company safely operating under the confines of being publicly traded, and they will be around forever. They revived a North American combat sports market that was dead thanks to a shitty narrative that stuck until fighters, Dana, and reality changed it.
I do not blame the media members, alot of which just dont have the media training, in ring combat sports experience to appreciate what they are watching/the brillance thats displayed/the history of the sport, tv experience or nerves, ive been in those rooms in the past, ive had conversations with them that went right over their heads, ive had verbal spats at christmas parties when hearing them trash the same people and product they should love, me and my crew after a couple of chocolate milks kindly asking them to step outside to fix their attitudes (which was unforunately declined, no balls, i love this enough to go to jail to defend it. It’s that important to me. more on that later), i shouldnt be one of three most knowledgable guys in the room, four only when dana white, fighters finally step in but levels of their genius cannot ever be showcased when the media have inexperience in both the sport they are suppose to be experts in, go right for clickbait negative questions for self serving reasons, or just happy to be there.
But I fully blame the PR department.
It is clear they have zero respect for the sport and the people dedicated to making others love it as deeply as they do and the experience, life time of knowledge as qualifications to do so. I’ve personally experienced it. Its the only major promotion i’ve experienced it with. A terminal cancer within the organization that needs correcting. Now as a professional? I take accountability for the slightest infractions in my professional life as all humans do. Even when its personal and noone’s business. That’s how you get better. It’s clear that accountability will never be taken and the product they are presenting is evidence of this.
I’ve reached out to a lot of people high up in the combat sports food chain. Ive started my investigative journalism campaign on these people — LinkedIn, Glassdoor, past employees included, lawyers I paid retainers to and obtained services from who will now work pro bono. Nice to have friends.
I’ve compiled a press team that assures real change can and will be made once my work is finished. We are only in beginning stages. Alot to unpack. Alot of money to spend, which i have, and happy to part with. The sport and the people in it means that much to me.
I don’t pull strings like tampex. I don’t flex “MMA powers.” But for this? I’m making an exception.
I’ll elaborate on that more later.
UFC 325 gets a 4 out of 5.
Quality won. Combat sports won. And CBS finally has a partner worthy of its ambition.
Fight World Live.