Modestas Bukauskas kicked off UFC Fight Night 252 with a bang Saturday when he made quick work of Rafael Cerqueira in the prelim card opener in Seattle.
At Climate Pledge Arena, Bukauskas (17-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) swarmed and finished Rafael Cerquiera (11-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) for a stoppage at 2:12 of Round 1.
Not only did Bukauskas nail the performance – he perfectly landed the celebratory backflip.
Starting the night off with a BANG @BalticGladiator gets the first round KO at #UFCSeattle! pic.twitter.com/6YHHY5VwqV
— UFC (@ufc) February 22, 2025
With the win, Bukauskas moves to 4-1 since his return to the UFC after being cut in 2021. His lone loss came to Vitor Petrino and he is now on a two-fight winning streak.
Cerquiera comes up short for the second time in as many UFC appearances after an 11-0 start to his career.
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 252 results include:
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Modestas Bukauskas vs Raffael Cerqueira at UFC Fight Night 252 | Preview & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
The opening bout at UFC Fight Night 252 sees Modestas Bukauskas meet Raffael Cerqueira in the light heavyweight division
Modestas Bukauskas vs Raffael Cerqueira Facts
When is UFC Fight Night 252? UK – the preliminary card starts at 11:00pm on Saturday 22nd February 2025, followed by the main card at 2:00am (Sunday) / USA – 6:00pm/9:00pm ET and 3:00pm/6:00pm PT
Where is UFC Fight Night 252? Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 252? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 252
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 252 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 252? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
For viewers in the United States, UFC Fight Night 252 will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
What time are Modestas Bukauskas and Raffael Cerqueira expected to walk out? Saturday 22nd February, 11:10pm UK / 6:10pm US ET / 3:10pm US PT
UFC Fight Night 252 Main Card
Henry Cejudo vs Song Yandong (Bantamweight)
Brandon Allen vs Anthony Hernandez (Middleweight)
Jean Silva vs Melsik Baghdasaryan (Featherweight)
Ion Cutelaba vs Ibo Aslan (Light Heavyweight)
Alonzo Menifield vs Julius Walker (Light Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night 252 Prelims
Nursulton Ruziboev vs Eric McConico (Middleweight)
Andre Fili vs Melquizael Costa (Featherweight)
Ricky Simon vs Javid Basharat (Bantamweight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Nick Klein (Middleweight)
Modestas Bukauskas vs Raffael Cerqueira (Light Heavyweight)
Rob Font vs Jean Matsumoto (Catchweight)
Modestas Bukauskas: Lithuanian looking for fourth win in second spell in UFC
Modestas Bukauskas (16-6) is in his second spell in the UFC and the Lithuanian is enjoying more success this time around. A three-fight losing streak saw him return to Cage Warriors in 2021 – and win the light heavyweight championship – but he returned to the UFC in 2023 and has since won three of his four bouts. He comes off a submission win over Marcin Prachnio at UFC 304 in July and will look to follow that up here.
Raffael Cerqueira: Brazilian desperate to bounce back from first career loss
Raffael Cerqueira (11-1) suffered a difficult welcome to the UFC as he was blasted out on his promotional debut by Ibo Aslan in October. It is a relatively quick turnaround for the Brazilian after that tough loss which was the first of his professional MMA career so it will be interesting to see how he handles it psychologically as much as anything else.
Modestas Bukauskas vs Raffael Cerqueira Prediction
The opening fight on the card in Seattle should be a good one with both fighters having something to prove. Modestas Bukauskas is determined to prove himself in the UFC and he is going some way to doing that in his second spell in the organisation. Cerqueira was TKO’d on his debut and he will be eager to show that was a fluke and that he is the real deal.
It is hard to back Cerqueira with any real confidence given the quick turnaround since his knockout. There was so much to like about him prior to that loss but he has been fighting at regional level and may not be cut out for the UFC.
Bukauskas has at least shown he is capable and belongs at this level. The Lithuanian has gained good experience at this level and has a decent enough track record.
Our concern is that he is susceptible to being knocked out and that has happened four times in his career. Cerqueira has very good power and could quite easily catch Bukauskas. The value play is on Cerqueira here but our pick is on the fight to not go the distance.
Prediction: Fight to not go the distance
I’m not here to make up the numbers after my horror injury, I’m here to make some noise, says Brit UFC star Bukauskas
MODESTAS BUKAUSKAS has vowed that 2025 will be his breakthrough year in the UFC.
It’s been two years since the former Cage Warriors light-heavyweight champion made an emotional return to mixed martial arts’ premier promotion.
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He made it back to the promised land 17 months after suffering a potentially career-threatening knee injury in his clash with Khalil Rountree Jr.
Bukuaskas’ second octagon stint has comprised of one defeat and three victories, the last of which was a submission triumph over Marcin Prachnio last July.
Barring defeat to Vitor Petrinho, ‘The Baltic Gladiator’ is happy with how things have gone in his second UFC run.
But he’s determined to up the ante this year, declaring in an exclusive interview with SunSport: “This is the year for me to make some noise.
“Personally, I feel like I’ve not made enough noise in the UFC.
“I’ve had some good wins and stuff, but I haven’t really had that performance to send shockwaves into the system.
“One of the goals written on my board is that it’s time to make some noise in the UFC and work towards that top 15 and get those fights and wins in the top 15.
“So realistically, [the goal] for this year is to make myself a stable house name in the top 15. And it all starts on Saturday.”
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He added: “I’m not just here to fill up the numbers. I’m here to make a statement. Like I say, just onwards and upwards.”
Ironically, Bukauskas feels better placed to make a run at the light-heavyweight division’s elite now than he did before several of his knee ligaments were ripped to shreds.
“It was definitely a roller coaster,” he said when recalling the long road back to the UFC. “Definitely a roller coaster.
“But I’m glad it went through it because it made me who I am today.
“And it’s made me unlock more of the powers of the ‘Baltic Gladiator’, that’s for sure.”
Bukuaskas’ hopes of cracking the top 15 starts with a Seattle showdown with Raffael Cerqueira, who will be champing at the bit to have his hand raised following defeat in his debut last October.
And he hopes to put himself in position to face the big names in the 205lbs division later this year with a standout performance.
“I’m always fighting for the finish,” Bukuaskas said. “I don’t just want to fight to win on points.
“Sometimes it goes that way, but I’m here to make the finish.
“So you can expect me to come out explosively, come out dangerously and come out there to get the finish.”
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