Mauricio Ruffy Bio
Maurício de Lima Santos, widely known as Maurício Ruffy, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Born on June 17, 1996, in Coruripe, Alagoas, Brazil, he has built a professional record of 12 wins and 2 losses since turning pro in 2016. Ruffy is recognized for his finishing ability, with several of his victories coming by knockout, and he has earned Performance of the Night bonuses in the UFC. His ring name, One Shot, reflects the confidence he carries into the cage.
Trained out of the Fighting Nerds camp, Ruffy has become one of Brazil’s most talked-about Lightweight prospects. As of November 2025, he holds a place in the UFC Lightweight rankings and continues to develop under one of the country’s rising gyms. With a background in striking and a growing international résumé, Ruffy represents the next wave of Brazilian MMA talent.
Early Life and Background
Maurício Ruffy was born Maurício de Lima Santos on June 17, 1996, in Coruripe, a coastal city in the northeastern Brazilian state of Alagoas. Growing up in Alagoas, Ruffy came of age in a region known for its strong martial arts culture, and he developed an interest in combat sports at a young age. His early years were shaped by the rhythms of small-town Brazilian life, where athletics often serve as a path out of limited opportunities.
He has been described as a focused and disciplined young athlete, eventually moving to larger training centers in pursuit of higher-level competition. The nickname One Shot, inspired by the popular Japanese manga One Piece, was given to him by his brother before his first professional fight, and it has stayed with him throughout his career.
Path to MMA
Ruffy began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2016, competing exclusively on the Brazilian regional circuit. Over the next several years, he assembled a record of 8 wins and 1 loss, with all eight of those victories coming by knockout. The string of finishes established him as a dangerous striker and brought him to the attention of international promotions.
Among his regional wins was a second-round knockout of UFC veteran Ronys Torres, a result that demonstrated Ruffy’s ability to finish seasoned opponents. His reputation as a finisher eventually led to an invitation to Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC’s proving ground for unsigned prospects. On Week 9 of Season 7 on October 3, 2023, Ruffy faced Raimond Magomedaliev and stopped him in the third round by technical knockout, earning a UFC contract from Dana White.
Mauricio Ruffy Career
Early Career (2016–2023)
During his years on the regional scene, Ruffy became known as a knockout artist. Each of his eight pre-UFC wins came by stoppage, signaling a finishing instinct that scouts rarely overlook. The regional run, while limited in global exposure, allowed him to refine his striking, sharpen his timing, and prepare for bigger stages.
The victory over Ronys Torres was a defining moment of this period, giving Ruffy his first signature win over a well-known opponent. By the time he arrived on Dana White’s Contender Series, his résumé carried enough momentum to earn him a spot on a nationally televised event.
UFC Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Ruffy made his UFC debut at UFC 301 on May 4, 2024, against Jamie Mullarkey. He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round, a Performance of the Night debut that announced his arrival in the promotion. The quick finish was characteristic of his regional reputation and validated the contract he had earned on the Contender Series.
At UFC 309 on November 16, 2024, Ruffy was originally scheduled to face Charlie Campbell, but Campbell withdrew and was replaced by James Llontop in a 165-pound catchweight bout. After a tense build-up, Ruffy won by unanimous decision, marking the first time in his career that he had gone to the scorecards. The decision victory showed a different side of his game, proving he could outpoint an opponent when a finish was not available.
His biggest breakthrough came at UFC 313 on March 8, 2025, when he defeated veteran King Green with a spectacular first-round spinning wheel kick knockout. The finish earned him another Performance of the Night award and made him a viral name in MMA circles. The win over a well-known finisher such as Green elevated his standing and pushed him into the UFC’s official Lightweight rankings.
Ruffy faced Benoît Saint Denis on September 6, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 258, and lost the bout via a second-round face-crank submission. The setback ended a stretch of momentum but did not diminish his overall trajectory. As of November 18, 2025, he is ranked #14 in the UFC Lightweight division, a remarkable rise for a fighter who debuted in the promotion only eighteen months earlier.
Fighting Nerds Era (2023–Present)
Ruffy trains with the Fighting Nerds, a Brazilian camp that has developed a reputation for producing skilled strikers and grapplers. After joining the public eye through the Contender Series, he has become one of the team’s flagship athletes. The camp’s combination of modern training methods and competitive sparring has played a key role in his finishing-heavy style.
In 2025, Ruffy announced plans to expand Fighting Nerds by opening a new training facility in New Hampshire, an effort to provide better infrastructure for his teammates and other athletes. The move highlights his growing influence within the team and his intent to help build a stronger talent pipeline for Brazilian MMA.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ruffy is best known for his striking power, particularly his ability to finish opponents with dynamic kicks and punches. His spinning wheel kick knockout of King Green stands as the clearest example of his creativity and explosiveness, and his regional résumé shows a fighter who consistently searches for the finish rather than the scorecards.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Ruffy’s career include his UFC debut knockout of Jamie Mullarkey, his Contender Series third-round TKO of Raimond Magomedaliev, his spinning wheel kick finish of King Green, and his entry into the UFC’s official Lightweight rankings at #14 in November 2025.
Mauricio Ruffy Career Wins
Ruffy has built a record of 12 wins and 2 losses, with victories spanning the Brazilian regional scene and the UFC. While most of his early wins came by knockout during his regional career, his UFC run has included a mix of finishes, including a decision win over James Llontop that showcased his ability to grind out results.
UFC Highlights
His UFC wins include a first-round TKO over Jamie Mullarkey, a unanimous decision over James Llontop, and a first-round spinning wheel kick knockout of King Green, the latter earning him a Performance of the Night bonus. Each of those performances contributed to his rise into the UFC Lightweight rankings.
Other Wins and Performances
On the regional circuit, Ruffy earned eight knockouts, including a notable second-round finish of UFC veteran Ronys Torres. The body of work set up his eventual move to Dana White’s Contender Series and, ultimately, a full UFC contract.
Mauricio Ruffy Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Limited public information is available about Ruffy’s family background beyond the influence of his brother, who gave him the nickname One Shot, inspired by the anime One Piece, before his first professional fight. The moniker has since become part of his public identity in the sport.
Personal Life
Ruffy resides in São Paulo, Brazil, where he trains with the Fighting Nerds. He has continued to invest in his team, announcing plans to expand Fighting Nerds with a new training facility in New Hampshire to support teammates and other athletes.
2025 Season Performance
Ruffy’s 2025 campaign began with one of the most memorable knockouts of the year, a first-round spinning wheel kick finish of King Green at UFC 313 on March 8, 2025. The win earned him a Performance of the Night bonus and positioned him among the Lightweight division’s rising names.
His momentum was later tested at UFC Fight Night 258 on September 6, 2025, when he suffered a second-round submission loss to Benoît Saint Denis. Despite the setback, Ruffy rebounded in the rankings, climbing to #14 in the official UFC Lightweight rankings as of November 18, 2025.
Looking forward, Ruffy continues to train with the Fighting Nerds and remains an active competitor in the Lightweight division. With a finishing-first style, a high-profile knockout on his résumé, and a growing infrastructure around his team, he remains a fighter to watch in the stacked Lightweight landscape.