Wrestle World - Next Nerd up: Mauricio Ruffy plans to put on for team after elongated UFC 309 training camp

LAS VEGAS – The Fighting Nerds have taken the MMA world by storm and Mauricio Ruffy hopes to teach another lesson Saturday at UFC 309.

After months of trying to get and keep opponents, with multiple cancellations outside of his control, Ruffy (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) hopes to match or exceed the excitement his dominant debut over Jamie Mullarkey in February brought.

“We were always training, always getting ready for fights,” Ruffy told MMA Junkie and other reporters through a Portuguese-language interpreter during a media day Wednesday. “We were basically in camp all the time. Four fights fell (through). Eventually, I really got a great experience. I’m pretty much well-schooled now in the area of other fights and other opponents – now, the last one being also a last-minute replacement. What ended up happening was that I just got to train more. I just got to be more ready. I’m ready to go and I’m very ready for this fight.”

Ruffy only has one UFC fight under his belt. With a win, he’ll join teammates Caio Borralho, Jean Silva and Carlos Prates as one of four Fighting Nerds fighters to go undefeated in the UFC in 2024.

What’s happening is not typical, and Ruffy hopes their virtual trophy case will be filled with superlatives at the wrap of the calendar year.

“I’m being very sincere, asking anybody here that’s involved in this and that and has seen everything that’s happened, to look at all the performances, all the results we’ve had,” Ruffy said. “I think we’re leading candidate for Gym of the Year.”

But in order to push his team one step further to that end-of-year goal, Ruffy will have to defeat short notice replacement James Llontop (14-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) in the main card opener. Ruffy is taking the fight seriously, though he plans to dazzle fans in the spotlight he’s been given at Madison Square Garden.

“It’s incredible. After my last fight, I got like 150,000 followers on Instagram right away,” Ruffy said. “It’s been amazing. I feel really blessed with all the opportunities I’ve had. Look where I am now. Here I am: New York, UFC 309. I’m really grateful for the opportunity. They are showing me the path. They’re showing me the path to be more of a more strategic fighter, a calmer fighter. It’s been amazing. It’s been so good to be around everybody with the success. I’ve been becoming a better fighter because of it. It’s been amazing.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.