Sep 6, 2025; Paris, FRANCE; Mauricio Ruffy (blue gloves) before the against Benoit Saint Denis (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

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Mauricio Ruffy Catches Heat From Islam Makhachev After First UFC Loss

Sep 6, 2025; Paris, FRANCE; Mauricio Ruffy (blue gloves) before the against Benoit Saint Denis (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

Talk is cheap in MMA, but the performance inside the octagon tells the real story. Rising fighters often find themselves caught between building hype through bold statements and actually backing up those words when it matters most. Social media has made it even easier for fighters to call out champions and established stars, sometimes writing checks their skills can’t cash when fight night arrives. Mauricio Ruffy learned this lesson the hard way at UFC Fight Night: Imavovs vs Borralho when he faced Benoit Saint-Denis.

The Brazilian had built considerable buzz, showcasing exciting striking skills in his previous UFC appearances and even calling out lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for a future title fight. However, his co-main event opportunity against Saint-Denis exposed significant gaps in his game. This didn’t go unnoticed by the very champion he had previously challenged. The former champion’s pointed criticism highlighted not just Ruffy’s weaknesses, but the danger of talking beyond your current skill level.

Islam Makhachev’s Brutal Assessment Hit Mauricio Ruffy Hard

Islam Makhachev didn’t hold back when analyzing Ruffy’s performance against Saint-Denis. He delivered a crushing evaluation that cut straight to the heart of the Brazilian’s problems. After watching just one round of action, the former lightweight champion posted this on social media.

“Win or lose, Ruffy has zero grappling.”

Win or lose, Ruffy has zero grappling
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) September 6, 2025

This was a clinical assessment from one of the best fighters in the world who had clearly been paying attention to someone who had previously called him out. Makhachev’s observation proved prophetic as Saint-Denis dominated Ruffy on the ground throughout the fight at UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs Borralho before eventually securing a rear-naked choke submission in the second round. The Dagestani champion’s follow-up message stung even more.

“Train more, speak less, that’s the key to success.”

Train more, speak less that’s the key to success #UFCParis
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) September 6, 2025

This simple advice carried the weight of someone who had reached the pinnacle of the sport through years of grueling preparation and steady improvement. The champion had clearly remembered Ruffy’s previous callout and used this performance as a teaching moment. Saint-Denis’ dominant performance exposed exactly what Makhachev had identified, Ruffy’s complete lack of ground game preparation.

For someone who had been calling out champions and positioning himself as a future title contender, Ruffy looked helpless once the fight hit the ground. His striking had been impressive in previous fights, but against a well rounded opponent like Saint-Denis, one-dimensional skills weren’t nearly enough. This harsh lesson might actually benefit Ruffy in the long run if he takes Makhachev’s advice to heart!

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam _ Imagn Images)

Islam Makhachev

Mauricio Ruffy

UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs Borralho

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!