UPDATED Mauricio Ruffy Draws Inspiration From Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov

Editor's note: The article was updated at 11:05 a.m. on May 30 to add an additional statement from Ruffy.

Up-and-coming Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Mauricio Ruffy is open to learning from anyone, anywhere.

The Fighting Nerds prospect has won three times since debuting with the promotion in 2024. Knocking out Jamie Mullarkey to put himself on the map, he went on to win on the scorecards against James Llontop, and most recently, demolish Bobby Green with a spinning wheel kick at UFC 313. The Brazilian is at a crossroads, having reached rankable opposition given that Green recently resided within the confines of the top 15 at 155 pounds. According to Ruffy, he is quite close to a return to the promotion.

The fighter born Mauricio de Lima Santos, whose nickname refers to “One Piece” main character Monkey D. Luffy, recently turned down a fight against top-ranked Mateusz Gamrot, as he was unwilling to step up on nine days. This did not put him down the list of names to call, as he told Sherdog on Thursday that he is preparing to sign a bout agreement that would place him in an upcoming main event. The opponent? He is keeping that card close to the vest.

“Actually, I came to the Jean Silva fight [against Bryce Mitchell] and got that invitation [to face Gamrot] backstage,” Ruffy explained. “But once [Carlos] Prates would fight the following week and I couldn’t have my main corners with me, I declined. Fortunately, we are doing a good job that is being recognized by UFC, so it’s time to take the right decisions.”

While he could not reveal his likely upcoming adversary, he did point to a fighter he wanted to take on one day.

“No doubt [I would fight] Justin Gaethje,” he immediately answered. “I’ve already studied a lot of his style and I’m sure his aggressive approach would provide an amazing fight that certainly wouldn't go to judge’s decision.”

Knowing that he still has yet to earn a number next to his name from the promotion, the Brazilian is willing to come to blows with practically every ranked lightweight, except one.

"[Charles Oliveira] ‘Bronxs,’ only for the belt,” the knockout artist stated. “I’ll never forget the way he welcomed me in my first UFC fight, even being from the same division. Charles is a unique human being.”

The man of many talents is proud to reveal who inspired him coming up on the regional scene, as well as who motivates him now to keep improving. One of his earliest inspirations for the fighter that turned pro in 2016 is Conor McGregor, who he attributes to helping him develop his own aggressive style. As he has come into his own as a striker, he has changed his main focus of study to the art of sambo, specifically from those in the Dagestan region including Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“If you look back in MMA history, there is always a dominant style that one day gets its ‘questions answered.’ It started with jiu-jitsu in the first UFCs, then wrestling, then top strikers started to defend takedowns and kick...Now we are living in a moment of domination of the Khabib style, but it will not last forever.”

The 28-year-old who earned a contract through Dana White's Contender Series defeated Raimond Magomedaliev—training partner of Islam Makhachev—and used that opportunity to gauge himself against that style. In some ways, he felt his approach against Magomedaliev bore similarities to current welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena’s strategy against former beltholder Belal Mohammad.

“When Raimond fought me in Contender [Series], Makhachev said that [Magomedaliev] was his best sparring partner and introduced him as the new welterweight king. If you look at those Russians, they have two amazing rounds where they basically frustrate the opponent. But if you are able to anticipate their throw, or, in case being taken down, resist and oblige them to strike in the late rounds, the history changes. That’s exactly how I TKOed Magomedaliev. If you look at the fight, I just started to speed up at the end of the second round and knocked him out with their own ground-and-pound game in the third round. I truly believe that’s how Maddalena will knock out Makhachev, around the 4th or 5th round.”

As a member of one of the best camps running today, Ruffy understandably thinks highly of his teammates. One in particular, “Lord” Silva, may be a star in the making at 145 pounds. Ruffy is optimistic of Silva’s chances in the featherweight division, especially after Silva mollywhopped Mitchell in April.

“I truly believe Jean is a level above everyone in the division. You should see this guy sparring. Besides being a sniper, he never gets tired. Looks like he improves round to round. The only one who I see giving him a war would be Ilia Topuria, but I’ve already seen Topuria getting tired and Jean just raises his intensity round-to-round. I would bet all my money on Jean against Topuria, but now he went to another division, so I truly believe that Jean will get that crown soon,” the Fighting Nerd noted.

In regards to McGregor, the Brazilian suggested that another dream fight would be Makhachev--with McGregor in his own corner. He suggested that on social media, to which "Notorious" responded.

"When I saw [McGregor] was following me in the Instagram, I wrote that I would love to have him in my corner if one day I can fight for the belt against Islam or anyone of the Khabib clan, and he sent me a big heart back."

Believing that has the answer to the puzzle that is the style originally taught by the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Ruffy is as confident as ever. He even wants to send a message in his next bout.

"Khabib once used a t-shirt saying that if sambo was easy, [it] would be called jiu-jitsu, and I already produced mine with an answer: 'If I like to fight ugly, I would train sambo,'" Ruffy boasted.