Mauricio Ruffy, UFC 301 Post-Fight Scrum
Credit: Dylan Bowker/Cageside PressLightweight, Mauricio Ruffy (10-1):
Ruffy had one of the best UFC debuts in years when he annihilated Jamie Mullarkey last May. He looked like a video game character the way he was fighting. Ruffy is fighting out of the Fighting Nerds gym which is a surging team out of Brazil.
Ruffy was someone I was high on back in 2019. He suffered a loss to Manoel Sousa and took nearly a three-year layoff. He’s been great since he’s came back and has absolutely leveled up recently. He’s got the personality and fighting style to be a huge star for the UFC.
Lightweight, Myktybek Orolbai (13-1-1):
Orolbai has exceeded expectations since coming to the UFC. He beat a taled Uros Medic with ease and beat the very tough Elvis Brenner in his sophomore UFC fight. Orolbai is a strong wrestler who could just muscle guys around. I don’t rate his grappling all too high but he’s mauling with ground and pound and is heavy on top.
Once he gets on the inside with his hands locked he’s a problem to get away from. He can fight at a hard pace for three rounds as shown in his last fight. His striking isn’t pretty but he will overwhelm guys with his pressure and his power. Orolbai didn’t fight anyone good outside the UFC but his two UFC fights prove he belongs.
