Mauricio Ruffy’s tenure in the UFC may only consist of a single fight so far, but as he approaches his sophomore appearance, the Brazilian can’t help but appreciate the spot he finds himself in at UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic.
For one, he’s riding a five-fight, five-knockout streak into New York City. And two: he gets to open up the main card in a catchweight fight against James Llontop. The slot came as a surprise to Ruffy, and he is soaking it all in throughout fight week.
“It’s incredible,” he said. “I can’t even explain it with words. I’m just enjoying it all, thanking God very much. I’m speechless.”
If he has one complaint, it’s that he has only participated in one fight since securing his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in October 2023, but this has not been without its advantages. His debut was a home game at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. That Ruffy’s second fight is on the same card as the likes of Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic, and Charles Oliveira in the World’s Most Famous Arena makes it all the sweeter.
“I saw the UFC’s care for me, always putting me in the biggest events,” he said. “I’m thrilled about it…I see the enthusiasm among the fans. My Instagram account went up insane. I’m still getting used to it. It hasn’t fully sinked in yet; now that I’ve woken up here, I’m on the main card. Perhaps the greatest card of the year, Jon Jones, could be his last fight; we don’t know yet. I’m really, really happy with it.”
Ruffy’s quick rise, albeit in the smallest sample size, is akin to the rest of his Fighting Nerds teammates. Ruffy, along with Caio Borralho, Jean Silva, Bruna Brasil, and Carlos Prates (who recently scored a main event knockout against Neil Magny), have put the Sao Paulo-based team on the map in a big way.
Their combination of electric performances and finishes, combined with singular and intriguing personalities, captured the attention of MMA fans across the board, one pair of fake glasses at a time.
“Fighting Nerds have made their debut in the UFC,” Ruffy declared. “We already knew, with our everyday commitment, when we first came here to the UFC, that we were going to leave a big impact, and I believe that our team will have many champions in the future,” Ruffy said.
A testament to the Fighting Nerds’ approach, beyond their results, is their consistent ability to step up, fight at any time, and consistently show up with ample energy. Due to their philosophy of staying close to their fighting weight outside of fight camp, Ruffy says their action-packed performances reflect that.
That commitment, naturally, comes with sacrifice. For Ruffy, it means time away from his two children, who were born about 10 months apart. Even though Ruffy started the camp at a healthy weight, he also feels like he’s been there for a while after a few matchups came and went.
“I miss them very much,” he said. “I miss (my oldest) most of all, who is very attached to me. Every day, he sends me a video message, “Daddy, Daddy.” I get emotional. I must remain silent in this situation to avoid tears.”
What he is pleased to talk about is his fight with Llontop, a fellow Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus coming off back-to-back losses. Surely, the sense of urgency will be high on both sides, but Ruffy knows desperation can make a dangerous man out of anybody.
Despite the reality and the excitement of opening a main card in Madison Square Garden, Ruffy anticipates handling everything calmly on fight night. His main concern is making the most of his training, and if it follows recent trends, he should be able to get an early night at work.
“We are never sure how the fight will turn out,” he said. “I prefer to read the opponent, to feel what he’s going to give me, and then I can put my weapons to use, as I have a lot of things ready.” I’m going there to wage war, as I always say. I plan to go in there for three rounds, but I don’t think he’ll be able to stay with me for that long. That’s what I expect.”