A former amateur MMA champion in Mexico, Brahyan Zurcher is currently 8-0 with six victories via stoppage. The Xtreme Couture product, a striking specialist influenced by his uncle, a Muay Thai fighter, is 3-0 in the PFL cage. Zurcher scored a decision win over Ricardo Jimenez in 2022 before second-round finishes of David Evans and Mike Bardsley, respectively, during the 2023 PFL Challenger Series and in a Showcase bout during the season. Zurcher has since scored back-to-back first-round TKOs outside the PFL.

 

Julian Ruiz is also a former amateur champion, going 8-2 on that circuit, and also comes into this fight undefeated with a 4-0 pro record. A Utah native, Ruiz has won three of his fights by KO/TKO, including his victory over Desmond Manabat in March. Ruiz is also 1-0 as a pro boxer.

 

Who will get to keep their 0 and make an impression in this featherweight showcase that kicks off the action in Salt Lake City?

 

 

Round 1

 

The two meet in the center of the SmartCage. Low kick from Zurcher. Both flash their jabs. Right hand from Ruiz. Low kick from Ruiz. Kick to the midsection of Ruiz, as Zurcher fires off a small flurry. Low kick from Zurcher. Low kick and a right hand from Ruiz. Zurcher keeps distance and lands a front kick to the body. A couple of right hands from Ruiz. Body kick by Ruiz. Front kick by Zurcher. Right hand from Ruiz. Both miss front kicks. Zurcher misses a high kick but lands a calf kick. Ruiz with a calf kick of his own. One-two from Ruiz as the two change in the pocket. Level change by Zurcher, but Ruiz sprawls to counter.

 

Ruiz tries to rip to the body. Right hand and a left hook from Zurcher that connect hard. One-two from Zurcher lands. Ruiz tries to go to the body again but eats a hook. Three-punch combination from Ruiz. Hook and a right hand from Ruiz. Body shot by Ruiz. Both men are landing here. High kick from Zurcher backs Ruiz up. Right hand from Ruiz. Zurcher grabs a leg, and Ruiz goes to the fence to defend. Ruiz successfully defends and stays on the attack. Both men landing again here. Right hand by Zurcher. Right hand by Ruiz.

 

 

Round 2

 

Both men with small flurries to start things off. Low kick from Ruiz is met with a one-two from Zurcher. Combination from Ruiz, who is pressing forward. Body kick from Ruiz and he misses the follow-up high kick. Round kick by Zurcher. Low kick from Ruiz. Push kick just misses for Zurcher. Left hand lands for Zurcher. One-two for Zurcher. Another combination for Ruiz. Ruiz on the front foot landing the right hand. Both men throw hooks, and it’s the left hook from Zurcher that DROPS RUIZ OUT COLD!

 

 

Brahyan Zurcher just left an impact in the SmartCage in his PFL return!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Brahyan Zurcher defeats Julian Ruiz via 2nd Round KO (1:26)

  • Zurcher improves to 9-0 as a pro with 7 stoppage wins
  • Zurcher is now 4-0 in the PFL (3 Showcase bouts/1 in Challenger Series)
  • Zurcher is a 2022/2023 PFL Challenger Series alum