UFC lightweight fighter Mauricio Ruffy has spoken about his impending return to the octagon in an exclusive interview with Spin Genie.
The Sao Paulo-born martial artist also named Paddy Pimblett as the opponent he wants to face and cited Cristiano Ronaldo as a reference point as he plots his route to the very top of the MMA mountain.
Read the full interview below.
Q. What are your expectations for returning to the Octagon?
MR: I'm ready and in the middle of a big negotiation. I'm just waiting for the other side to sign and accept the fight. But, man, I'm sure that in the next few days I'll bring some news that will make the fans who follow me, who support me, go crazy.
Q. So this next announcement is about your next fight?
MR: Exactly, exactly.We're already talking to the UFC. They asked me to wait with this negotiation and not share it with anyone yet, right? But the fans are always on top of me, asking every day: "So, when is the next one going to be? And, well, I shared a little bit of the story so they can understand and wait a little bit, have a little more patience, because I'm sure everyone will really like the next fight.
Q. If you could choose someone to fight now, who would you have on your radar, thinking about a more realistic fight for you?
MR: Man, if I could choose, today I would definitely fight Paddy Pimblett today. But I know it's a fight that will happen a little later, because these are two athletes that the UFC is betting a lot on - me and him.
And what I've noticed being inside and close to the athletes who are emerging, for example, Caio, Jean, Diego Lopes himself, who is a guy that I like, we have many talks and we saw how things happened quickly for them, right? And it happened quickly because of their performance. So, more recently at UFC, I am one of the athletes who had the most overwhelming performances in the UFC. There were three fights, I almost didn't take a punch in my three fights, right? So the UFC, from what I've been seeing, is giving opportunities to athletes based on their performances. So, after my last fight, they offered me Justin Gaethje, who is top 5 in the UFC, you know? He didn't accept the fight, but the UFC wanted to make the fight. So what I see, that guys sometimes, Ruffy’s fans view, yeah, you can't fight that guy because that guy is top 10, and you haven't entered the rankings yet. But wait a minute, the UFC sent me a top five in my last fight now against Green, right? So, after this fight against Green, imagine the offers that will come my way show up, right? So, I'm sure the crowd will like it.
So, I would definitely choose Paddy Pimblett, it would be a fight where I'm sure I would be able to show a lot, right, against a guy who has a game like him, who holds his own in grappling. I'm sure I would nullify his game.If I had to choose, I'ddefinitely fight Paddy Pimblett today. However, I know that fight will happen later because the UFC is heavily invested in both of us.
Being close to emerging athletes like Caio, Jean, and Diego Lopes, I've seen how quickly things progressed for them due to their performance. Recently, I've had some of the most dominant performances in the UFC, barely taking a punch in my three fights. The UFC seems to be offering opportunities based on performance. After my last fight, they even offered me Justin Gaethje, a top-five fighter, though he didn't accept.
Some of my fans might think I can't fight a top-ten opponent if I'm not ranked yet, but the UFC offered me a top-five fighter before my fight against Green. So, I'm sure the offers after this fight will be exciting for the crowd.
I'd choose Paddy Pimblett because I'm confident I could showcase my skills against his grappling-heavy style and ultimately nullify his game.
Q. Do you see yourself against Michael Chandler or Saint Denis ?
MR: I believe that Michael Chandler or Saint Denis could be next. The UFC also offered me Mateusz Gamrot, but we were four days away from the fight and Jean Silva would be there to fight, so none of my coaches would be in the corner.
This put us in a difficult position to accept the fight. Nevertheless, I'm confident that a significant opponent, like Michael Chandler, Mateusz Gamrot, or Saint Denis, will eventually come my way. We'll see how it unfolds.
I really believe that a name like that will come, like Michael Chandler, Mateusz Gamrot, Saint Denis, I believe that one of those guys could come.
Q. Did you have the chance to watch Charles' fight against Ilia Topuria? What did you think? How can you analyse his performance?
MR: I think Charles made a lot of mistakes. I don't know if it was that strategy. Even for a guy who has fought so many times, bumping into Ilia Topuria and giving in, I felt that Charles tried to get the best of Topuria.
So, Topuria's best thing is to do that. Get there, fight at close range. I was there, it was hard to see Charles lose. I really like Charles. I think he made a mistake in his strategy, he could have had better strategies. I noticed that at the beginning of the fight Charles got cut and was kind of desperate to stick Topuria there. He stuck there until there was no time, no, he didn't take him down and tried to grab the guy to survive the moment or to get through that agonizing moment. He didn't have that calm to lead the fight and all that, but it's hard to talk against Charles.
Q. Do you think he can still have good fights in the future? Do you think he can go back to aiming for the belt?
MR: I don’t think Charles can aim for the title again. He has had a good story and I believe he doesn't have the desire of those who are coming up. I, for example, haven't tasted much in the UFC yet. So, I'm getting to know the flavor. How it's like to win big fights. SoI'm hungry, I want to live this moment. When I go into the octagon, I go in to die, if necessary. I don't go in to kill the guy. I'm a guy who's very aware. I put my hand up, the guy leaves the fight, I don't continue. But I'll go in there for anything, bro. I'll go in there to die. So I don't believe that Charles has that desire anymore. The guy has been through it all, man. The guy was champion of everything there, won, finished, had the best bonuses, made a ton of money. So I don't think he has the same hunger. He made a beautiful story,he's going to enter the hall of fame. I'ma big fan of Charles, I just have to congratulate him on his career, especially because he came from where he came from and is living the life he's living, right? So, man, it's really cool to see this success.
Q. What did you think of Ilia Topuria’s performance?
MR: I think it was an excellent performance by Ilia. He's an excellent fighter. I really like his style, I think it's exciting. I see it as an exciting fight, me fighting him. These are two guys who go in there to knock each other out. But speaking of his performance, I think he made the right decisions. I think he did what had to be done and got a great victory over a great fighter. But I believe he could have made other decisions, he's a technical fighter, right, man? A guy who likes to dance and Charlie doesn't, right? So he made the most of the fight, made the right decisions and congratulations to him for this victory.
Q. Did Paddy Pimblett’s entrance into the octagon go too far?
MR: I thought it made no sense from Paddy to provoke Ilia there. What did they want there? To put Topura against Pimblett? It'sdefinitely going to be a fight that favors Topuria a lot. I think it makes no sense for Topuria to defend takedowns, if he puts his hand on him there, he'll fold, man. To face Topuria, you have to be a guy who knows how to play his game.
A game of strategy, of moving, boxing, etc. So, like, Paddy doesn't know how to do that. So, like, it's a fight that I'm sure the fans don'twant. Paddy is a very captivating guy, he knows how to captivate people and he's very friendly.
But apart from that, the fans really want to see Maurício Ruffy against Topuria. Because they're two guys who go up there with a beautiful fighting style and who go in there to resolve the situation. I really believe that the next one to fight for the belt will be Tsarukyan. It'll be Ilia versus Tsarukyan. I think that fight would make a lot more sense.
Q. So you think that Paddy doesn't deserve a shot at the title yet?
MR:He doesn't deserve it, and beyond that, the vision of selling an exciting fight to the fans simply isn't there. It certainly won't be an exciting fight. Let's suppose he beats Topuria by grappling him and holding him down. Topuria isn't foolish on the ground; he has a high-level game. Did you see how easily he defended Charles's leg attack? I found that very interesting. So, what is Paddy going to do? Is he going to box with him? No, he won't. It would be a very boring fight to watch, and I'm not excited about it.
Q. So imagining you against Pimblett, what do you think you would do with him? Do you think you would put up a good fight?
MR: A fight between myself and Paddy Pimblett would be a great matchup – for me, that is. I'm not one to overly promote a fight by disparaging my opponent, but envisioning this as a game with two characters, here's what would happen: Paddy would attempt a takedown, I'd successfully defend three, and then I'd knock him out while standing. He simply doesn't have the striking level to exchange blows with me.
As I've said before, I currently have a 100% takedown defense success rate. Opponents who train to take me down often don't even attempt it in the fight, recognizing my defensive anticipation. In my 15 fights, no one has ever managed to take me down. My takedown defense is exceptionally strong. So, what would Paddy do? He'd go for my legs, I'd defend the takedowns, and then I'd finish him. I believe a fight against Paddy Pimblettwouldn't last beyond the first round, possibly the second at most, but even that's unlikely.
Q. Talking about a fight between Brazilians, Jean Silva and Diego Lopes, what do you have to say about that fight?
MR: Honestly, it's a fight I truly didn't want to see. There are plenty of foreign opponents for us to face instead of focusing on Brazilians, a trend the UFC also seems to favor.
Each fighter has their own unique style. Jean, in particular, is focused on his own path, striving for the championship. I wholeheartedly believe in Jean for this fight. I'll be cheering for my brother, without a doubt. Where he sheds blood, I shed blood too.
While I'll be rooting intensely for his victory, watching this fight will be somewhat difficult for me. I'll be a bit uneasy, a little sad. However, I genuinely believe Jean can achieve a knockout. I'll be watching with my heart in my hand, rooting for my brother, Jean, as I said. It will be a tough watch, but I want Jean to win, just not to inflict harm. I don't want to see anyone leave the fight seriously injured.
Q. So, regarding a possible fight between you and Topuria, how would you see that fight?
MR: Many on the internet have misunderstood my intentions. I'm not demanding my next fight be against Topuria; that wouldn't be logical. I'm honest about that. It makes no sense for me to bypass fighters who have worked hard to reach their current standing and simply jump the queue. However, I believe that after one or two fights, I'll be prepared to contend for the belt. My readiness truly hinges on my next opponent. If I perform well, God willing, I'm confident my focus will shift to challenging the elite. I'll be asking, "Who will Topuria defend his belt against next?"
I believe a fight against Topuria would be an excellent opportunity for me, as I am also adept at the strategic "game" he plays. I consider myself an expert in this. If you observe, from the outset of his last fight, Topuria was trying to draw Charles into an engagement. He was creating an opening, allied with Charles in a sense, by calling him out. I would never fall for such a ploy. The key difference in a fight between us would be two strategists setting up a fight. Looking at Topuria's earlier career, he nearly lost fights because he often leaves himself exposed.
Q. Do you see weaknesses in him, points that you can exploit?
MR: It's clear to me how to catch him, but you have to know how to play this game. It's the most technical game, a game of creation, of building a knockout. You kick a calf, strike the belly, always thinking about the next step. That's what I understand, and I have a significant advantage in this fight, even due to my reach. I'm a bigger guy. Consider the punches I've absorbed in my last three fights—I'm in the biggest organization in the world, fighting the best. Bob Green fought everyone in the UFC, and in our fight, he didn't land a single blow on me. I went in there and knocked him out without him touching me. I know how to play this game, and I guarantee you I'm better than Topuria. That's why I said, the chance I get, I'm going to shut this guy down. I'm not trying to sell myself; I'm speaking about what I believe in, the reason I wake up every day and train, leaving a lot of sweat and blood in the gym. I'm sure I have all the weapons to shut down Topuria.
Q. People say Ilia Topuria’s the new face of the UFC and all that. Do you think he already deserves that? Like, or is that a bit of an exaggeration?
MR:I believe he is an exciting fighter. He enters the ring and finishes his fights. It's amusing because some fighters win numerous bouts by tying up opponents and punching them to the ground. Then, another fighter emerges with five knockouts against top-level opponents. He is popular because people enjoy watching him. Even in my next fight, I plan to engage. If I wanted to fight defensively, I would just train in Sambo.
I believe the public has the right to witness all aspects of the sport, including Sambo, Jiu-Jitsu, grappling, and especially knockouts. Even grapplers, when they see a knockout, scream and celebrate as if they've never experienced it before. Their dream is to achieve a knockout, but they grapple because they lack the confidence to go for it.
Islam was initially my target, but he's moved up a category. Now, Topuria is in my sights. He's being closely watched, and it's going to explode soon.
Q. What are your predictions for Topuria vs Makhachev?
MR: I believe Islam would emerge victorious in that encounter. The outcome largely hinges on Topuria's defensive prowess. If I were to wager, my money would be on Islam Makhachev. His size, weight, and expertise in grappling make him the clear favorite. I'd definitely place my bets on him.
Q. It's also been pointed out that Topuria tries to follow McGregor's style a bit, do you think he's trying to be an imitation of McGregor?
MR: Conor McGregor undeniably influenced many in the fight game, directly or indirectly inspiring their approach. However, I believe Topuria represents an evolved version of this. He excels at promoting fights and positioning himself, but what truly sets him apart is his respectful demeanor. He appears to be a man of principles, which I deeply value. While he knows how to provoke, he never resorts to disrespect or profanity, unlike some instances with Conor.
I much prefer Topuria's style of fight promotion – it's something I genuinely respect from a character perspective. When Conor crossed the line with swearing, attacking wives, or nationalistic insults, it went too far for me. Yet, as a fighter, Topuria, like prime Conor, is a finisher, and watching Conor fight in his prime was incredible.
I believe Topuria is on the right path. If he continues to secure key victories, his trajectory will be fascinating to watch. But as of now, I still consider Conor's overall impact to be greater.
Q. Could you talk a bit about what you think your path to the title is like?
MR: Imagine this: one more fight. For example, I'm fighting Mateusz Gamrot right now. I go in, defend his takedowns, beat him up, and knock him out. Bam! Who's next? Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett, or Tsarukyan. Any of those guys would put me in contention for the title. The UFC might even make me a reserve for the title if I beat Mateusz Gamrot convincingly. As I've said, the UFC values performance highly. If you perform well, you get pushed up.
I've had three UFC fights. My debut, on a numbered card opening the main event with José Aldo's return, was a knockout. It was considered the best UFC debut ever. My second fight was against a guy 23 kg heavier, with hundreds of thousands watching. And then, well, we put on a show. I believe if I maintain this performance, I can surprise them on my path to the belt.
Q. Who is your greatest idol and reference in MMA?
MR: I'm inspired by several fighters, but four stand out. Alex Poatan is my biggest inspiration because I admire his knockout artistry. Caio Borralho's movement in the octagon fascinates me. Jean Silva's ability to divert an opponent's attention while delivering powerful grips and damaging blows is remarkable. Lastly, Carlos Prates's patient approach to setting up and delivering knockouts, leading the fight to a finish with his kicks, is truly inspiring. While there are others, these four are my primary sources of inspiration.
Q. Do you have an idol outside the world of fighting?
MR: I have a few favorite athletes, but if I had to pick two, they would be Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo. I even publicly thanked Neymar at a UFC press conference because he helped me win $50,000. I was at home watching a video of him dribbling past an opponent, and then he immediately followed it up with another dribble before even finishing the first one. That made me think, "How can I apply that to a fight? One strike immediately followed by another." That's exactly what I did against Bob Green. I threw one feint after another. He blocked a "blow" he thought was coming, but it was just a feint. The second one was also a feint, and then finally, the kick to the head landed. So, thank you very much, Neymar.
Cristiano Ronaldo inspires me greatly with his seriousness, his commitment, and his incredible discipline. He's a human being, and although I haven't met him in person, he truly motivates me.
Q. Do you have a message for your fans and those who follow MMA?
MR: People from Brazil, people from all over the world, you can be sure that in one or two fights we'll be fighting for the belt there. I'm sure of that. And I know that many people still doubt it, but even the people who are by my side and see my work every day, they can believe a little more. So have a little patience, put your faith in the Brazilian here, and I'm sure you'll be proud to see me representing you in that octagon. So soon, Topuria, get smart. We're heading your way and I'm going to be the man. I'm going to put you to sleep. That ‘one negative’ is going to come through Ruffy. Thanks.
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