Mauricio Ruffy’s third octagon look can be in opposition to longtime veteran King Inexperienced on the principle card portion of UFC 313 this Saturday, however being a part of a extremely anticipated Las Vegas pay-per-view isn’t be the most important stress the Brazilian has confronted going right into a fistfight.
A Combating Nerds light-weight prospect, who has received 11 or 12 skilled bouts to this point together with his first two UFC appearances, Ruffy advised MMA Combating that dealing with off with Kazakh welterweight Raimond Magomedaliev at Dana White’s Contender Collection really put much more stress on his shoulders than any of his earlier UFC bouts.
Magomedaliev was the odds-on favourite when he took on the Brazilian in October of 2023. He entered Contender Collection with wins over Impa Kasanganay and Anthony Njokuani on his résumé, however Ruffy scored an upset knockout of Magomedaliev with 15 seconds left within the last spherical.
“I haven’t confronted something, by way of stress, like that Contender Collection struggle,” Ruffy stated. “It was very tough for me as a result of my spouse gave delivery to our child. I bought to stick with my child for 2 days after which journey to Vegas. She had a pores and skin drawback that made it very tough for me to go away them. I used to be preventing a man a division up, and he was seen as a future champion at 170. Combating in entrance of Dana White on the Contender Collection, and I needed to carry the contract to my spouse and my son. That was the most important stress I’ve felt my total life. Coping with that was very tough. God helped me undergo that, and I used to be in a position to knock him out.”
Ruffy signed with the UFC after which walked by Jamie Mullarkey in one of the crucial spectacular debuts of all time, pocketing an additional $50,000 for his efficiency in entrance of his countrymen at UFC 301. He fought in New York subsequent, and skilled a brand new form of nervousness seeing President Donald Trump and Elon Musk cageside.
“I keep in mind I couldn’t face the group in Rio,” Ruffy stated. “I needed to face the group and really feel the vitality. After which I fought at Madison Sq. Backyard, and after I entered the octagon and began preventing [James Llontop at UFC 309], it felt so good I merely didn’t need it to be over. And it received’t be totally different this time. After all the things I went by, I really feel prepared for this. In a approach, all the things that occurred solely made me develop. I can see that now. I simply wish to go there and do what I really like. The happiness of doing that’s approach greater than any anxiousness, any stress.”
Ruffy stated he was approached by the UFC with the provide to exchange Dan Hooker versus Justin Gaethje when a hand damage compelled Hooker out of the UFC 313, co-main occasion, however the firm finally opted for a Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev rematch. Ruffy feels {that a} match with Gaethje could be much more thrilling, however understands Gaethje’s resolution to face a higher-ranked foe as an alternative.
Absolutely centered on Inexperienced, Ruffy guarantees new strikes that may impress the followers.
“I’ve envisioned this struggle for a very long time,” Ruffy stated. “It’s a shock that it got here so quickly. That is solely my third struggle within the UFC, and the second time I’m opening the principle card — this time on perhaps the most important UFC of the 12 months. I’m proud of all the things God has given me. The impression I’ve is that I’m residing in a 12 months what an athlete would take 10 years to stay. I’m very blissful and grateful for this struggle.”
Inexperienced has confronted a few of the world’s greatest throughout his 26-fight UFC run, from future champion Islam Makhachev to the likes of Dustin Poirier and Edson Barboza. The 38-year-old’s most up-to-date wins got here in opposition to Jim Miller, Grant Dawson and Tony Ferguson, however Ruffy doesn’t see evolution in his sport over the previous decade.
“I consider he has a struggle sample,” Ruffy stated. “If you happen to get his fights 10 years in the past, he’s the identical fighter. What he’s modified a bit is preventing extra on a southpaw stance, however our crew has mapped out all the things you’ll be able to think about. His response within the first spherical, the second, the third, how he behaves. He’s emotional, the best way he screams when his identify is introduced. He’s speaking on a regular basis as a result of he can’t cope with the volcano he has within him, and I consider we are able to use that to our benefit. I’ve a method and we’ll observe that.
“I’m positive that the fitting second will current itself, and when he offers me that chance, it’s one shot.”
