WASHINGTON – Michael Chandler will look to take Mauricio Ruffy into deep waters.
Former title challenger Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC) takes on rising lightweight star Ruffy (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) Sunday at UFC Freedom 250 (Paramount+) from the White House in Washington.
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On paper, the matchup could be a changing of the guard with Chandler a huge underdog against Ruffy. However, Ruffy’s submission loss to Benoit Saint Denis at UFC Fight Night 258 showed Chandler the crafty striker can be broken.
“I’m a nonstop, in-your-face-grinder-type-of-guy,” Chandler said during Wednesday’s UFC Freedom 250 media day. “I’ve earned every single thing and fought for every single thing that I’ve done in this sport, and that’s not to take anything away from him. I just think we have two different styles. I’m a hammer that’s looking for a nail, and he is a guy who is… he’s sometimes looking like he’s playing a video game out there.
“So when the going gets tough, when the waters get deep, whenever the oxygen gets sucked out of the octagon, whenever things you thought are going to work aren’t working, whenever that big shot lands, and I shake it off and look you right in the eyes, and I come and snatch your soul, where is he going to be? I think we’ve seen that in the past.”
Chandler has fought top-tier competition since signing with the UFC in 2021. The former Bellator champion’s three-fight losing skid came against Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and Paddy Pimblett, and he aims to show Ruffy that his experience in all-out wars will pay dividends.
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“Like I said, not to take anything away from him, but I bring a different type of ferocity, a different type of pace, and a different type of chaos that a lot of guys are surprised by,” Chandler continued. “If you look at my body of work, check the resume.
“I’ve fought nothing but top of the crop in the UFC. You talk about some of these guys that have been champions, interim champions, fought for championships, they were able to withstand a lot of that so, we’ll see how Ruffy does. Does he sink or does he swim?”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Michael Chandler explains what he brings that Mauricio Ruffy hasn’t seen
