Rising Star Rinat Fakhretdinov Dominates with Swift Victory at UFC Paris

Explosive Performance Showcases Welterweight Contender’s Power

Rinat Fakhretdinov, the Russian professional mixed martial artist, currently competing in the UFC’s Welterweight division, has further cemented his position as a rising force in the sport with another impressive victory.

At UFC Paris on September 6, 2025, fighting inside the Accor Arena in Paris, France, Fakhretdinov delivered a statement win by stopping Andreas Gustafsson with a dominant 54-second TKO victory.

Dominant Display of Skill

The fight began with Gustafsson showing aggression with wild overhand shots, but Fakhretdinov remained composed. After weathering the early storm, Fakhretdinov landed a decisive straight left that staggered his opponent. Sensing the opportunity, he pursued Gustafsson to the cage, unleashing a barrage of strikes that led to the referee stopping the contest at 53 seconds of the first round.

Rising Through the Ranks

This victory extended Fakhretdinov’s unbeaten streak to seven fights inside the UFC, improving his overall professional record to 24-1-1. The dominant performance demonstrated that he operates at a level above other unranked welterweights, and his finishing of Gustafsson, who had never been stopped before, is expected to earn him a place in the division’s top fifteen rankings.

Background and Career Journey

Born on September 28, 1991, into a Volga Tatar family in Belozerye, Russia, Fakhretdinov began his martial arts journey at age 13 with freestyle wrestling and Kūdō. His dedication to the sport led him to Moscow in 2011, where he joined the ‘sparta combat sambo club’.