The UFC’s stacked lightweight division is rarely if ever lacking in rising contenders and a new name was added to the list at UFC 301.
Brazil’s Mauricio Ruffy made a statement in his impressive debut during the preliminary card at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, finishing Jamie Mullarkey via technical knockout in the opening round of their 155-pound bout.
Ruffy was roughly a two-to-one favourite entering Saturday’s event and it showed early with the fighter’s impressive ability to control the distance with his footwork and head movement against his seasoned opponent.
The UFC rookie ended up landing landed 25 of his 40 significant strike attempts for a solid 62 per cent connection rate and only absorbed seven significant head strikes himself.
“When I look at him now, I’m making a comparison to a young Conor McGregor the way he is piecing this guy up, the way he is so accurate and his instincts, reminds of a young Conor,” UFC commentator Din Thomas said on the broadcast.
One of the strikes Ruffy landed during the finishing sequence was a flying knee, and he even tripped Mullarkey to the canvas briefly with a nifty scissor sweep.
Count UFC president Dana White among those impressed.
Daniel Cormier described the performance as a “flawless victory,” before adding during the post-fight interview: “That was one of the greatest UFC debuts that we’ve seen in a really long time.”
The 30-year-old replied by confidently agreeing “the hype is real.”
Not only did Ruffy appear to have advanced striking offence and defence in his Octagon debut — just like the Irish superstar did in 2013 when he earned a 67-second TKO win over Marcus Brimage — but he also showed off a similar high-ceiling confidence.
“I have a nice message for (current lightweight champion) Islam Makhachev. Enjoy your days at the top. I know you’re upset because I beat your friend, but enjoy your days because the new king is coming,” Ruffy said through an interpreter.
This was a reference to his third-round TKO victory over Raimond Magomedaliev on the Contender Series this past October.
After a debut performance like that, Ruffy will likely earn himself a main card placement in next outing.
How quickly Ruffy rises up the rankings will depend on whether or not he can perform like that regularly and eventually against ranked contenders.
Keep in mind, McGregor was only 24 when he debuted in the UFC and fought a young Max Holloway in his second UFC appearance, plus in his fourth fight knocked out a featherweight Dustin Poirier.
Ruffy is 10-1 in mixed martial arts with all 10 victories by KO/TKO and that 100 per cent finishing rate is no joke.
