Surging Brazilian knockout artist Mauricio Ruffy is set to make his return in the co-main event of UFC Paris this weekend (Sat., Sept. 6, 2025) inside Accor Arena in Paris, France, when he takes on local fan favorite and No. 13-ranked Benoit Saint Denis.
On paper, this one promises pure chaos. Both Ruffy and “BSD” are proven finishers with aggressive styles, and it’s unlikely either man takes a backward step once the Octagon door closes. For as long as it lasts, expect violence.
Ruffy, who has quickly captured the admiration of MMA fans with his explosive striking and highlight-reel knockouts, used his UFC Paris media day appearance to air some frustrations about the current state of MMA. Specifically, he criticized the wave of dominant grapplers who have risen to the top of the sport in recent years — names like Islam Makhachev, Khamzat Chimaev, and Merab Dvalishvili.
Safe to say he’s not a fan.
“I don’t think a guy who just holds on to you for 25 minutes should be considered the best in the world,” Ruffy told reporters. “You know, we have guys like [Ilia] Topuria who can play jiu jitsu, wrestle, and knock guys out. Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, all of these guys have put on a great show. I don’t think the fans deserve to watch someone being held down for 25 minutes. I have a saying, ‘Train Sambo if you want to put on boring fights.’”
Still, stylistic debates aside, Ruffy won’t have to worry about Saint Denis grinding out a 25-minute wrestling affair. The Frenchman has built his reputation on sheer grit, nonstop aggression, and a willingness to absorb damage in order to dish it back out. Even when grappling, “BSD” hunts for submissions and thrives in scrambles rather than settling into long stretches of control.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Paris fight card, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 3 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
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