Mauricio Ruffy, a Brazilian lightweight prospect in the UFC, considers his most pressure-filled fight to have been against Raimond Magomedaliev in Dana White’s Contender Series due to personal challenges and high stakes, despite his upcoming bout against veteran King Green at UFC 313 being on a major Las Vegas pay-per-view card.
Mauricio Ruffy is gearing up for his third octagon appearance, facing off against the seasoned King Green on the main card of UFC 313 this Saturday. Yet, the glitz and glamour of a Las Vegas pay-per-view don’t faze him as much as past battles.
Ruffy, a promising lightweight from Fighting Nerds, has clinched victory in 11 or 12 pro fights, including his first two UFC bouts. Oddly enough, he recalls the pressure of fighting Kazakh welterweight Raimond Magomedaliev at Dana White’s Contender Series as more intense than any UFC match so far.
Magomedaliev was heavily favored when they clashed in October 2023. With victories over names like Impa Kasanganay and Anthony Njokuani, he seemed unstoppable—until Ruffy shocked everyone with a last-minute knockout.
“I’ve never felt pressure like that Contender Series fight,” Ruffy admitted. “My wife had just given birth. I spent only two days with my newborn before flying to Vegas. Leaving them was tough since my wife had a skin issue. Plus, I was up against a guy from a higher division seen as a future champ at 170.”
Fighting under the watchful eye of Dana White, Ruffy knew he had to bring home a contract for his family. “It was the biggest pressure of my life,” he confessed. “But with God’s help, I knocked him out.”
After signing with the UFC, Ruffy dazzled fans by defeating Jamie Mullarkey in an unforgettable debut at UFC 301, earning a $50,000 bonus. Next stop? New York City, where nerves spiked seeing Donald Trump and Elon Musk cageside.
“In Rio, I couldn’t face the crowd,” Ruffy reflected. “But at Madison Square Garden against James Llontop at UFC 309? It felt amazing. Now, I’m ready for anything.”
Initially considered to replace Dan Hooker against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313, Ruffy’s chance slipped away when the UFC chose Rafael Fiziev for a rematch instead. He gets it—Gaethje wanted a higher-ranked opponent—but still dreams of that matchup.
Now all eyes are on Green, and Ruffy’s ready to wow fans with new moves. “I’ve imagined this fight forever,” he shared. “It’s surreal how fast it’s happening—a dream year compressed into months.”
Green’s no stranger to tough competition: Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Edson Barboza—the list goes on. Recently he’s beaten Jim Miller, Grant Dawson, and Tony Ferguson. But Ruffy sees little evolution in Green’s game over time.
“He’s got a fight pattern,” Ruffy observed. “Ten years ago or now—same fighter. Sure, he’s using southpaw more often. We’ve dissected everything: his rounds, his emotions—how he yells when announced.”
Ruffy senses an opportunity amidst Green’s emotional eruptions. “We can use his inner volcano against him,” he said confidently. “I’ve got a strategy. When the right moment comes? It’ll be one shot.”