Irina Alekseeva vs. Klaudia Syguła Fight Prediction

The octagon is set to heat up in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 21, 2025, as UFC Fight Night: Hill vs. Rountree delivers a bantamweight showdown between Russia’s Irina Alekseeva and Poland’s Klaudia Syguła. This prelim card clash pits two grapplers with contrasting paths in the UFC, promising a scrap that could hinge on ground wizardry or a surprising stand-up exchange. With both fighters looking to rebound from losses, this bout is a critical juncture for their careers, making it a must-watch for MMA fans and bettors alike.

Irina Alekseeva

Irina Alekseeva, the 34-year-old “Russian Ronda” from Chelyabinsk, brings a 5-2 record to the cage, forged through her mastery of combat sambo. A world champion in sambo and a three-time Russian hand-to-hand combat champion, Alekseeva’s game revolves around slick transitions to the mat, where her submission arsenal—think armbars and kneebar wizardry—shines. Her UFC debut in April 2023 saw her tap out Stephanie Egger with a kneebar in just over two minutes, showcasing her ability to end fights quickly. However, her follow-up bout against Melissa Mullins exposed potential cardio concerns, as she faded late and dropped a unanimous decision. Off a 12-month suspension due to a failed drug test, Alekseeva’s physical and mental resilience will be tested, but her aggressive grappling and knack for early finishes make her a dangerous proposition.

Alekseeva’s charisma and flair—complete with flag-waving entrances and post-fight dance moves—have made her a fan favorite, but her mental fortitude is worth noting. During her loss to Mullins, she battled through a ruptured cyst, which sapped her strength and left her fighting on pure grit. This resilience, paired with her experience in high-pressure regional promotions like Bellator, suggests she can handle the spotlight. Still, her history of weight misses (she overshot the bantamweight limit by four pounds in her debut) and questions about her gas tank in longer fights could be exploitable. With a full camp in her home country, expect Alekseeva to come in sharp, aiming to reassert herself as a contender.

Klaudia Syguła

At 26, Klaudia Syguła steps into the octagon with a 6-2 record, carrying the hopes of Polish MMA fans. A purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Syguła’s game thrives on the canvas, where she’s secured submissions like armbars and rear-naked chokes in regional promotions such as FEN and Armia Fight Night. Her striking, however, took a hit in her UFC debut in November 2024, where Melissa Mullins stopped her via ground-and-pound TKO in the second round. That loss snapped a six-fight win streak, highlighting her struggles against aggressive strikers who can keep the fight standing. Syguła’s youth and regional experience—she’s the first Polish woman to compete in bare-knuckle MMA—give her an edge in adaptability, but she’ll need to tighten her stand-up defense to compete in the UFC’s deep bantamweight division.

Syguła’s mental game appears solid, as she’s navigated a gauntlet of regional promotions with consistent success before her UFC setback. Her ability to rack up decisions (three of her six wins) shows she can go the distance, but her debut loss suggests a need for better fight IQ when defending against top-position strikers. Training out of Ankos MMA Poznań, a respected gym, Syguła likely spent her camp sharpening her takedown defense and striking to avoid another ground-and-pound beating. Her youth could be a trump card, offering superior recovery and energy, but her relative inexperience in the UFC spotlight might leave her vulnerable against a seasoned showwoman like Alekseeva.

Predicting the Fight: Irina Alekseeva vs. Klaudia Syguła

This bantamweight tilt is a classic grappler’s chess match with high stakes for both fighters. Alekseeva, with her sambo pedigree, will likely look to drag the fight to the mat early, where her submission game can shine. Her track record of first-round finishes (three of five wins) suggests she’s most dangerous in the opening stanza, chaining takedowns into submissions like a seasoned predator. However, her loss to Mullins showed that if the fight stretches into later rounds, her cardio might falter, especially if she’s forced to wrestle defensively. Syguła, meanwhile, brings her own grappling chops with a BJJ purple belt, but her debut exposed a critical weakness: she struggles to dictate the fight’s pace against aggressive opponents. If Alekseeva can press early and secure top position, she could exploit Syguła’s porous stand-up defense or hunt for a submission.

Syguła’s path to victory lies in weathering Alekseeva’s early storm and turning the tables on the ground. Her BJJ skills could neutralize Alekseeva’s sambo if she can secure a sweep or work from her back effectively. The Polish fighter’s youth and stamina might allow her to outlast Alekseeva, especially if the fight becomes a grueling three-round affair. However, Syguła’s TKO loss to Mullins raises red flags about her ability to handle pressure in the clinch or against the cage, where Alekseeva’s sambo throws and trips could dominate. An intriguing subplot is the shared opponent in Mullins—Alekseeva went the distance, while Syguła was stopped early, suggesting the Russian has a slight edge in durability. The Baku crowd, with its proximity to Russia, might also give Alekseeva a psychological boost, as she’s expressed excitement about fighting close to home. Expect this bout to hit the mat early, with both fighters fishing for submissions, but Alekseeva’s experience and finishing instinct could tip the scales. If Syguła can survive the first round and force a decision, her youth and cardio could make things interesting.

Our Prediction: Irina Alekseeva via submission in Round 1. Alekseeva’s sambo expertise and knack for early finishes should overwhelm Syguła’s developing UFC game, especially if she capitalizes on her opponent’s shaky stand-up defense to secure a quick takedown and submission.

• Upset Bet: Klaudia Syguła via decision (+180) – Syguła’s youth and BJJ could keep her competitive if she survives early and grinds out a decision.
• Prop Bet: Fight Under 2.5 Rounds (-150) – Given Alekseeva’s first-round finish rate and Syguła’s TKO loss, this fight is unlikely to go the full distance.
• Method Bet: Alekseeva by Submission (+120) – Alekseeva’s submission-heavy resume makes this a high-value play for bettors.

Владимир Сапаров

Большой поклонник бокса: занимаюсь и слежу за ним более 20 лет. Также, интересуюсь крупными событиями в мире мма и кулачных боев.