Brazilians Shine at UFC Fight Night in Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazilian fighters dominated the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night on October 11, 2025, held at the Farmasi Arena. The event showcased seven bouts, with Brazilians winning six of them, mostly by finishes.

Luan Lacerda scored a second-round submission victory, marking his return to the Octagon after a two-year hiatus. Lacerda controlled much of the fight against Saimon Oliveira, eventually convincing the latter to submit with a rear-naked choke.

Julia Polastri also impressed, defeating Karolina Kowalkiewicz via TKO in the third round. Polastri displayed aggressive striking throughout the match, including a heavy kick that opened the door for her finish.

Lucas Rocha secured his first UFC win by unanimous decision over Stewart Nicoll, showcasing excellent striking and takedown defense. Bia Mesquita celebrated a successful debut by submitting Irina Alekseeva in the second round, demonstrating her elite grappling skills.

Vitor Petrino continued the trend with a stunning third-round knockout of Thomas Petersen. Petrino landed powerful uppercuts, leaving Petersen unable to continue.

Jafel Filho also made a statement with a first-round kimura submission against Clayton Carpenter, proving his grappling prowess. Finally, Michael Aswell Jr. completed the prelims with a first-round TKO victory over Lucas Almeida, showcasing his striking abilities and resilience.

The preliminary fights built excitement ahead of the main card, featuring Charles Oliveira against Mateusz Gamrot.