Mauricio Ruffy Explains Islam Makhachev Callout, Targets Bobby Green Next

There was a method behind the madness of Mauricio Ruffy’s post-fight callout of UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev last weekend.

“Since I beat his best sparring partner (Raimond Magomedaliev) in a higher weight class (170 pounds) on the Contender Series, I thought it was a good moment to make a statement,” Ruffy told Sherdog.com. “After all, the UFC lightweight champion guaranteed [Magomedaliev] was going to be the new king of the 170-pound division. And Magomedaliev is really tough. Before facing me, he beat the 2023 PFL light heavyweight champ, Impa Kasangany, who fights three divisions above.”

Ruffy has made a habit of knocking out sparring partners of high-profile fighters. Last year, he scored a first-round stoppage of Corneliu Lascar Rotaru, who has trained with Irish superstar Conor McGregor.

“A few months before receiving the invitation to the Contender Series, I broke my left hand in the first fight of the Centurion FC Grand Prix, when I knocked out Conor McGregor sparring partner Corneliu Lascar,” he said. “Then I had a very difficult task in the finals defending the takedowns of former UFC fighter Ronys Torres only using my hips and footwork. It was a hell of a challenge, but I defended all his takedown attempts and knocked him out in the second round. That´s why when the UFC invited me to the Contender Series my hand was not healed yet.”

Aware that he has a lot to prove before facing the champion, Ruffy asked UFC to give him Bobby Green as his next oponent.

“I think in my Octagon debut I was able to prove I’m on a different level, knockout out a 10-fight UFC veteran in the first round,” he said. “I truly hope the UFC gives me higher-level opponents, so I have more competitive challenges and give better shows to the fans.

“I would love to face Bobby Green because of the style matchup. He loves stand-up fights and I think it would be a war. And I could knock him out in the first round.”