Same scores, different winner! Dmitry Bivol rallies late to win majority decision over Artur Beterbiev

See full Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 video highlights RIGHT HERE!

Adam Guillen has been writing (and translating) for MMAmania.com since 2011, covering the latest UFC, Bellator, PFL and other mixed martial arts (MMA) news and latest happenings throughout the combat sports world.

There was a case of deja vu in what proved to be another epic fight between Artur Beterbiev an Dmitry Bivol earlier today (Sat., Feb, 22, 2025) at “The Last Cresendo” event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia live on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV).

Sort of.

Once the dust settled after 12 rounds of back and forth action, the scores came out to 116-112, 115-113, 114-114, with judge Jean Robert Laine ruling the fight a draw. Interestingly enough, the scores are the same as their first fight back in Oct. 2024.

This time around, however, it was Bivol who got the majority decision to become the undisputed Light Heavyweight champion in boxing.

Things started off slow for the challenger, as Beterbiev was the better puncher and put more pressure on Bivol in the first few rounds. Along the way, however, Bivol started to find his groove and the champion started to slow down a bit. Regardless, the two men gave it all they had up until the final round, and I don’t think either man was confident that the decision was going to go their way.

In the end, Bivol gets the nod and now holds the keys in a stacked division that includes Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez. Speaking of which, “The Mexican Monster” was in attendance since it was widely believed that he would be up next for Beterbiev had he come out on top. But now that the series is tied at one a piece, a potential trilogy fight between Beterbiev and Bivol may halt Benavidez’s desire to become undisputed champion.

Furthermore, since Canelo Alvarez is locked in for a fight in May against an opponent to be named at a later date, followed by a much-anticipated showdown against Terence Crawford in September, Benavidez’s options don’t look too good at the moment.