LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 31: (L-R) Opponents Alice Ardelean of Romania and Montserrat Conejo Ruiz of Mexico face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on October 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
One of two strawweight scraps scheduled for Saturday’s UFC Vegas 110 found Alice Ardelean and Monserrat Ruiz facing off.
Ruiz was fighting for the first time since November of 2023, and looking to snap a perilous three-fight losing streak. Ardelean had captured Fight of the Night honors in a decision win over Rayanne dos Santos in May.
Ardelean was active early, mixing up her hands and kicks. Returning fire, Ruiz, the far shorter fighter, seemed to be hitting air more often than not. Ardelean used her length the land several low kicks, connecting with her jab as well. Soon enough, Ruiz was showing damage around one eye. Towards the end of the round, Ardelean would take the back in a scramble, with Ruiz staying upright, carrying her weight to the horn.
Round two saw Ruiz look to pursue a takedown, grabbing a leg only for Ardelean to break free with apparent ease. On the feet, Ruiz continued to be outmatched, struggling with the length of Ardelean, though she did have her moments. Ruiz was bloodied, but Ardelean was showing a bit of damage of her own, thanks to Montserrat’s absolute refusal to back down. Ruiz circled, looked for a way in, and fired a looping overhand right. Her next couple of attacks were big swings as well, but hit air. Ardelean, in contrast, was sharp and tight with her striking, a lot of straight punches connecting to the body and head. They clined up the end the round, but stayed standing.
The third frame started scrappy, with a bloodied Ruiz still bouncing on her feet and firing punches. She caught a kick, and trapped Ardelean’s leg with her own while throwing punches and backing her up to the fence. A rather nifty sequence that ended in a clinch, though Ardelean took control eventually and broke free. The round picked up at the end, Ardelean and Ruiz going to the mat in a heap; while Ruiz raised her hands in celebration after 15 minutes, it was most certainly Alice Ardelean who had won the fight. The evidence, quite frankly, was written all over Ruiz.
Official Result: Alice Ardelean def. Montserrat Ruiz by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
