It’s hard to envy UFC CEO Dana White’s job during fight weeks. One misstep, one injury, and entire matchups go up in smoke. That’s exactly what happened just days before UFC 315 in Montreal. Benoit Saint-Denis, once set to lock horns with Spain’s Joel Alvarez, found himself without a dance partner. Alvarez, reportedly nursing an undisclosed injury, was forced to withdraw. The result? A big hole in the UFC 315 main card, and an even bigger question for Dana White.
But when chaos knocks, opportunity sometimes answers. Enter Mauricio Ruffy, a fast-rising lightweight with a knack for timing, both in the cage and online. Just as the news of the matchup falling through was making waves in the MMA sphere, the ‘Fighting Nerds’ standout took to X and fired off his shot. Ruffy wrote, “Hey, UFC! How about a Fight Night main event against Saint Denis?”
Let’s rewind. This isn’t the first time Ruffy has called out Saint-Denis. In fact, it’s déjà vu for fight fans. Back in November 2024, Ruffy stood under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden after dismantling James Llontop at UFC 309 via a unanimous decision. Speaking during the post-fight press conference, he lit the spark by stating, “I think it will be a really good fight, and it’s not even coming from me. A lot of people online and on social media would like that fight to happen. I think it will be a great fight. I hope he takes it.”
At the time, it was just a callout. But now? It might be a lifeline that Dana White and the UFC may have been looking for.
Benoit Saint-Denis, the French brawler nicknamed ‘God of War’, currently holds the number 13 spot in the lightweight rankings. He got to that spot via a string of finishes from 2022 to 2023 before running into the wall known as Dustin Poirier at UFC 299. He suffered a vicious KO loss and later in the year, fell victim to Renato Moicano, losing that fight via a TKO due to a doctor’s stoppage.
UFC 315 was meant to be his rebound. Instead, it’s turned into uncertainty. Until Mauricio Ruffy came knocking.
The Brazilian prospect is no slouch. He’s undefeated in the UFC, riding a wave of momentum after a highlight-reel head-kick KO of Bobby ‘King’ Green at UFC 313. His striking is surgical, his confidence unshakable. And most importantly—he’s ready.
Now, let’s be real. With only seven days left, the UFC matchmakers and Dana White face a tough call. The UFC 315 card has already drawn a lot of criticism due to the perceived lacklustre nature of a lot of matchups on it. While Ruffy has called for a ‘Fight Night’ main event, it remains to be seen which direction the promotion chooses to go with.
However, this isn’t anything new for Mauricio Ruffy. The Brazilian is chasing greatness in the UFC, and he’s already made a bold offer to one of the biggest names in the sport!
Mauricio Ruffy hands Conor McGregor a stunning invitation as he solves Dana White’s UFC 315 headache
Ever since Mauricio Ruffy exploded onto the scene through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, fans have pegged him as one to watch. And when he landed that jaw-dropping head-kick KO against ‘King’ Green at UFC 313, the world took notice. Since then, comparisons to Conor McGregor have followed Ruffy like a shadow.
In a recent conversation with MMA Junkie, he confessed, “In the construction of Mauricio Ruffy, there was always a little bit of Conor McGregor there, I’m a big Conor McGregor fan, I love McGregor’s style, and there is a little bit of McGregor there”
But here’s the twist—Ruffy isn’t just inspired by McGregor. He wants to fight alongside him! With his surge towards the top of the division, the Brazilian phenom has his eyes set on a clash against Islam Makhachev. The history between the Dagestani camp and ‘The Notorious’ is already legendary.
As such, Ruffy confessed, “When I’m ready to fight Islam Makhachev, when I go to fight him, I want to invite Conor McGregor to be in my corner so it’s us against the Russians.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov will likely be in Makhachev’s corner. And if so? Then maybe, just maybe, Ruffy vs. Islam becomes more than a title fight. It becomes a new chapter in the McGregor-Khabib rivalry—with a Brazilian twist!
So, with UFC 315 wobbling and Dana White under pressure, a last-minute shake-up could breathe fire into a cold card. Ruffy vs. Saint-Denis? That’s fireworks. Ruffy chasing Islam with McGregor in his corner? That’s history in the making!
Do you think the promotion gives in to the Brazilian’s demands and sets him up against Benoit Saint-Denis? And will this lead to his dream of having ‘The Notorious’ in his corner for a title shot? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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