Radivoje Kalajdzic pulled off one of the craziest turnarounds of the young year on Saturday night, stopping Oleksandr Gvozdyk in the seventh round at Zuffa Boxing 02. It was the kind of fight that seems to end early, then completely turns around, leaving a former champion stunned and a heavy underdog standing.
Oleksandr Gvozdyk emerged favorite. He controlled the early rounds with his feet and timing, dropping Radivoje Kalajdzic twice early, including a clean right hand that put Kalajdzic on the canvas. During the first part of the fight, Gvozdyk was landing first and last, piling up the balls and dictating the pace as if the night was heading into a routine decision.
Kalajdzic remained patient and continued to advance, even after suffering damage that would have broken many fighters. As the rounds progressed, his right hand began to find a place, and Gvozdyk’s reactions slowed just enough to invite exchanges he had avoided earlier. The change was gradual, but it was real, and confidence began to waver.
That swing turned into a collapse in the seventh. Kalajdzic caught Gvozdyk with a series of hard shots that knocked his head back and visibly shook him. Gvozdyk fell, beat the count, but never regained his balance, and as Kalajdzic used more right hands, the referee stepped in to stop the fight, sealing a dramatic technical knockout.
For Gvozdyk, the loss is detrimental after controlling much of the fight. For Kalajdzic, it was a career-defining victory built on tenacity and confidence, coming back from the field to stop a former world champion who seemed untouchable from the start.
The 10-round light heavyweight bout took place on February 1, 2026 at Zuffa Boxing 02 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card broadcast on Paramount+.
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Last updated on 02/01/2026
