Brazilian Contender Series winner Mauricio Ruffy got to debut on a big stage at home on Saturday, in an imposing match-up with the always game Jamie Mullarkey.
The lightweight showdown found Mullarkey coming in off a win, and 2-2 in his last four.
By the end of the night, Ruffy’s praises were being sung far and wide.
The opening round got underway and Ruffy landed a low leg kick. Ruffy was already fighting with quick feet and was the faster fighter. He landed a hard left jab that snapped Mullarkey’s head back. Ruffy already had some visible damage of the lead leg of Mullarkey, and the bout was barely underway.
Australia’s Mullarkey would come forward but simply couldn’t find his range. Ruffy threw a beautiful wheel kick. It didn’t land clean but it had Mullarkey come forward. Soon after Ruffy landed a right hand that hurt Mullarkey. The speed and timing mixed with the diversity from Ruffy was throwing Mullarkey off. Ruffy then landed a right hand that put Mullarkey down. Mauricio Ruffy swarmed with the flying knee and uppercut. He poured a beating on Mullarkey and the ref had to step in. A superb performance from the debuting fighter, who would later send a message to lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, noting that he’d defeated a teammate of the champ back on the Contender Series.
Official Result: Mauricio Ruffy def. Jamie Mullarkey by TKO (punches), Round 1, 4:42
