Maurício Ruffy

Chandler opened with leg kicks and wrestling attempts, but Ruffy controlled the striking with jabs and straight rights. Ruffy landed spinning heel kicks that badly hurt Chandler, stuffed a desperation takedown, then swarmed with punches as Chandler turtled on the ground, forcing the stoppage at 4:29 of Round 1.

Key moments

• Chandler started with leg kicks and takedown attempts; Ruffy answered with stiff jabs and straight rights.
• Ruffy's spinning heel/wheel kicks buzzed and then badly hurt Chandler.
• Chandler shot for a desperation takedown; Ruffy avoided it and poured on the attack.
• Ground-and-pound with Chandler turtled forced the TKO at 4:29 of Round 1.

Ruffy weathered an early storm from Fiziev before taking over in the second round, dropping the Azerbaijani with a clean right cross late in the frame. Fiziev rose but collapsed under the follow-up onslaught, forcing the referee to wave it off with about 30 seconds left in the round.

Key moments

• Survived Fiziev's pressure and leg kicks through a competitive opening round
• Landed the fight-changing right cross in the closing minute of round two
• Swarmed with finishing strikes as Fiziev wobbled back to his feet
• Bounced back from his first pro loss to re-enter the lightweight title picture

In the UFC Paris co-main event, Saint-Denis grounded Ruffy early and dominated with his grappling, controlling top position across the fight. He took the back in the second round and locked up a rear-naked choke to force the tap, handing Ruffy his first professional loss.

Key moments

• Saint-Denis secured an early takedown and controlled most of round one
• Ruffy struggled to create space or threaten off his back
• Saint-Denis climbed to the back and sank the choke in round two
• First career loss; exposed Ruffy's grappling under sustained pressure

Ruffy flatlined veteran Bobby 'King' Green with a perfectly timed spinning wheel kick to the head just over two minutes into the first round. The finish was the 16th wheel-kick knockout in UFC history and a leading 2025 Knockout of the Year contender.

Key moments

• Landed a clean spinning wheel kick flush to Green's head
• Green dropped instantly, prompting an immediate stoppage
• 16th wheel-kick KO in UFC history, drawing Edson Barboza comparisons
• Earned a Performance of the Night bonus

At Madison Square Garden, Ruffy outpointed the durable James Llontop over three rounds to win a unanimous decision (29-28 across the board). It was the first time in his career he was taken the distance, ending a run of stoppage wins.

Key moments

• Controlled the striking exchanges over three rounds
• Llontop's toughness dragged Ruffy into his first decision
• Won 29-28 on all three scorecards
• First pro fight to reach the judges

On his UFC debut in Rio de Janeiro, Ruffy battered Jamie Mullarkey, bloodying his nose before finishing with a barrage of strikes late in the first round. The flashy performance drew 'young Conor McGregor' comparisons.

Key moments

• Dominated the striking from the opening bell on debut
• Broke Mullarkey down with volume and power
• Finished with a late first-round flurry for the TKO
• Announced himself as a Fighting Nerds prospect to watch

In a disciplined three-round performance at the UFC APEX, Ruffy ground down Magomedaliev with heavy low kicks through the third round, compromising his opponent's movement before taking top position and finishing with ground-and-pound. Ruffy came from behind on the scorecards to earn the stoppage and a UFC contract.

Key moments

• Trailed on the scorecards through rounds one and two as Magomedaliev controlled the pocket.
• Turned the fight with persistent low kicks in round three that visibly damaged Magomedaliev's lead leg.
• Secured top position when Magomedaliev attempted a spinning elbow late in round three.
• Finished with grounded punches at 4:45 of round three to earn his UFC deal.

In the tournament final of Centurion FC: Rex Redemptor, Ruffy stopped the experienced Ronys Torres in round two to claim the championship, completing a two-fight night in Rio de Janeiro. The victory was part of a winning run that set up his Contender Series appearance later that year.

Key moments

• Competed in the tournament final after defeating Rotaru Lascar earlier the same night.
• Pushed through to a second-round finish, showing durability and finishing instinct.
• Claimed the Centurion FC tournament championship at 170 lbs.
• One of his final regional fights before being booked for Dana White's Contender Series.

In the tournament semi-final of Centurion FC: Rex Redemptor in Rio de Janeiro, Ruffy stopped Moldovan fighter Corneliu 'The Beast of Moldavia' Rotaru Lascar in the first round to advance to the championship bout later that night.

Key moments

• First of two fights Ruffy won on the same evening in a Centurion FC tournament.
• Stopped Rotaru Lascar, nicknamed 'The Beast of Moldavia,' with punches late in round one.
• Demonstrated ring fitness by returning for a second bout the same night.
• Advanced to the tournament final, which he also won by TKO.

Ruffy needed just 86 seconds to stop Brenno Luiz Gonçalves at Arena Pride MMA 4 in Santos, São Paulo, adding another first-round TKO to his regional record. The quick finish was consistent with his pattern of explosive early stoppages throughout his Brazilian circuit run.

Key moments

• Stopped at 1:26 of round one, one of his faster regional finishes.
• A lightweight bout at Arena Pride MMA 4 in Santos, São Paulo.
• Extended his regional winning streak with another punch-based stoppage.
• Part of a rebuilding run after his 2019 loss before earning the Centurion FC tournament shot.

In a battle of unbeaten fighters at SFT 18 in São Paulo, Ruffy had the better of the first round — dropping and cutting Sousa — but was caught with a hard shot to the chin early in round two when he backed into the fence with his hands down. A follow-up flurry brought the referee's intervention at 2:41. It was Ruffy's only career loss before his UFC debut.

Key moments

• Billed as a battle of undefeated fighters; Ruffy dropped Sousa in round one.
• Sousa bounced back and knocked Ruffy down in what became a wild opening round.
• In round two, Sousa caught Ruffy backing into the fence with his guard low and landed a decisive punch.
• Only career loss prior to the UFC; the defeat gave Sousa his toughest fight to that point by his own account.

Ruffy knocked out Derlan Marinho inside the first round at Mega Fight Championship 2 in Osasco, São Paulo. The victory was a title fight at 163 lbs on the Brazilian regional circuit, adding another belt to his growing résumé before the loss to Sousa later that year.

Key moments

• Title fight at 163 lbs at Mega Fight Championship 2 in Osasco, São Paulo.
• Finished Marinho by KO at 3:35 of round one.
• Added a regional championship to his record on the Brazilian circuit.
• One of several regional belt wins that built his profile ahead of a Contender Series push.

Ruffy stopped Rafael 'Sonic' Silva in the second round at Standout Fighting Tournament 8, continuing his run of finishes on the Brazilian regional circuit. The TKO came just over a minute into round two.

Key moments

• Fought under the Standout Fighting Tournament banner, a recurring Brazilian regional promotion.
• Finished Rafael 'Sonic' Silva by TKO at 1:08 of round two.
• Consistent finishing performance as part of his unbeaten regional run heading into 2019.

Ruffy stopped Lucas Costa Jesus with elbows in just under two minutes at Batalha MMA 13 in Osasco, São Paulo. The elbow-based finish was one of the few non-punch stoppages of his career and highlighted the variety in his arsenal during his regional circuit phase.

Key moments

• Lightweight bout at 154 lbs at Batalha MMA 13 in Osasco, São Paulo.
• Notable for being stopped by elbows rather than Ruffy's usual punching power.
• Finished at 1:42 of round one, another fast stoppage in his early career.
• Part of a consistent string of first-round finishes on the Brazilian circuit.

Ruffy needed just 64 seconds to stop Wendson Santos at Gold Fight 9, posting another explosive first-round finish on the Brazilian regional circuit in his second professional outing.

Key moments

• Second professional fight; finished in 1:04 of round one.
• TKO by punches, consistent with the finishing pattern that would define his career.
• Part of an early regional run where Ruffy posted back-to-back quick stoppages.

Ruffy announced himself on the Brazilian regional circuit with a 30-second TKO in his professional debut at Premium Fight Championship 6. The explosive first-round finish set the template for nearly every win that followed.

Key moments

• Professional debut; finished inside 30 seconds — his fastest career stoppage.
• TKO by punches established the finish-early pattern that would carry through his UFC run.
• Premium Fight Championship 6 was a small Brazilian regional show in São Paulo state.