Mauricio Ruffy will face Michael Chandler at the UFC White House
card. | Getty/UFC
Mauricio
Ruffy turned out to be correct in the prediction of the venue
for his next fight.
Four days before the official announcement of the
UFC White House fight card, Ruffy said in an exclusive
interview with Sherdog.com, “The UFC is really liking my
performances. What I can say now is that my next fight will either
be at the White House or five rounds.”
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A few days later, Dana White would confirm the Brazilian’s
statement, revealing that Michael
Chandler would be his opponent at the UFC White House event on
June 14.
“I have to thank Hunter and Dana a lot. I will complete two years
in the UFC in May, already fulfilling a dream,” Ruffy said in a
recent inteview with Sherdog. “I have a lot of respect for Chandler
not only as a fighter, but as a family man. He is a very dangerous
oponent. What I can say is that I will get in there in great shape,
and Chandler will face the best Ruffy. In all my fights I look for
the knockout all the time, and this time will be no different.”
Regarding the training camp, the lightweight fighter told us that
he had a meeting with Pablo Sucupira on Sunday and hasn’t yet
decided if he’ll do his camp at
The Fighting Nerds.
„Right now I’m 100% focused on healing my hand,” he said. “I have
two more weeks to decide. So I´ll put all my energy into that.”
The Brazilian believes that if he wins with another dominant
performance, he will have his chance at the belt. Asked whom he
believes will win between Topuria and Gaethje, Ruffy did not agree
with the odds.
“It’s going to be a war,” Ruffy said. “Topuria doesn’t back down
and exposes himself a lot in his fights. Gaethje has the same
characteristic; unlike the odds I think it will be a war.”
Topuria Has Holes
In case of a Topuria victory, Ruffy believes he has the antidote to
stop the champion.
“Topuria is extremely aggressive, but he also exposes himself a
lot, so much so that when he faces technical opponents like
Holloway, he also receives a lot of blows,” Ruffy said. “I have
many weapons to deal with him. In six UFC fights, I was practically
never hit in the face. Topuria has holes that I can exploit. I know
I can beat him, and by knockout.”