Jun 28, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Ilia Topuria (red gloves) fights Charles Oliveira (blue gloves) during UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Lightweight Knockout Artist Sends A Message To Ilia Topuria After UFC 317 Win

Upcoming lightweight knockout artist throws down the gauntlet against the new lightweight champion Ilia Topuria!

Jun 28, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Ilia Topuria (red gloves) fights Charles Oliveira (blue gloves) during UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The UFC lightweight division has always been a shark tank where rising stars quickly learn the difference between potential and performance. Mauricio Ruffy understands this better than most, having climbed his way up from Dana White’s Contender Series to become one of the most exciting knockout artists in the 155 pound weight class. The Brazilian earned his UFC contract in 2023 after delivering a highlight reel finish that caught everyone’s attention.

However, it was his spinning wheel kick knockout of veteran King Green earlier this year that truly announced his arrival. That devastating finish became an instant contender for knockout of the year and proved that Ruffy possesses the kind of one shot power that can change fights in an instant. Now with seven straight wins under his belt, Ruffy has set his sights on the biggest target in the lightweight division.

Ilia Topuria just made history at UFC 317 by brutally knocking out Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant lightweight title. He moved up from featherweight after vacating that belt. The Georgian-Spanish fighter has become one of the UFC‘s biggest stars. He boasts an undefeated record and knockout power that has left a trail of unconscious opponents in both weight classes. His rise to two division glory has been meteoric, but it has also painted a massive target on his back as every lightweight contender now sees him as their ticket to championship gold.

Mauricio Ruffy Throws Down The Challenge

Fresh off Topuria’s stunning first round knockout victory over Oliveira, Ruffy wasted no time sending a message to the new lightweight champion. The Brazilian took to social media with a bold declaration that caught the attention of fight fans everywhere.

“Make the most of this moment Topuria … I will definitely put you to sleep!!”

Mauricio Ruffy says he'd put Ilia Topuria to sleep 👀😳 pic.twitter.com/zleHzsf8li
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 29, 2025

Ruffy made his intentions crystal clear. The confidence in that statement speaks volumes about where Ruffy sees himself in the division hierarchy, even though he hasn’t cracked the official top 15 rankings yet. The callout makes sense from Ruffy’s perspective, even if it seems premature to fans. Both fighters are devastating knockout artists who prefer to end fights early rather than go to the judges’ scorecards. Ruffy has finished three of his four UFC opponents, with only a short notice fight against James Llontop going the distance.

The Brazilian belongs to the “Fighting Nerds” team that has been making waves in the UFC recently. They have produced several exciting fighters who have brought a fresh energy to various divisions. He appears to have the skills and mentality needed for that climb. But calling out champions while unranked is more about generating buzz than realistic expectations.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Mauricio Ruffy

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!