During the week, he had appeared sharp as rarely, the black look, the protruding muscles. A year after his heavy defeat against Renato Moicano, already at Accor Arena, Benoît Saint Denis proved that he is not at the top of the world hierarchy for nothing. And that the judgment of the referee caused by his swollen face was only a distant memory.
The UFC had not, however, gave him a gift by putting on his way Mauricio Ruffy, member of the terrible team of Fighting Nerds. A great talent in the category (-70 kg), the Brazilian has lightning in the fists, and the French understood it well.
From the first seconds of the fight, “God of War” took his opponent to the ground, an area where he is much less comfortable. He did not linger there as soon as he was able to get up. Standing, Nicolas Ott’s protégé was not taking risks and remained at a distance.
The return to the summits?
The second recovery started again like the 1st, with a strategy perfectly applied by Benoît Saint Denis. After an unsuccessful attempt, the Frenchman returned to the ground and found the opening. Weakened by long minutes of struggle, Mauricio Ruffy ended up typing and letting go.
“I knew that my strategy was going to work,” he said after the fight, “still in the cage. The problem is that with karatekas, they can make incredible blows so there can be a certain psychosis. But he has two arms and two legs like everyone else. »»
Faced with a fighter announced as one of the future greats in the category, the former Special Forces soldier, who announced the birth of his 2nd child, Clovis, proved that he was particularly solid and that his future was playing in the Top 15. After two victories against less well -classified fighters, he can now legitimately target a better classified adversary and resume his journey.
“If the UFC cannot find opponents for Tsarukyan or Gamrot, I am ready,” he said. I know there is an evening in New York in November, it had succeeded two years ago, I would like it. »»
The other results of the evening:
- Benoît Saint Denis (FRA/n ° 13) BAT Mauricio Ruffy (Bre/n ° 15) by submission to the 2nd round (rear strangulation)
- Modestas Bukauskas (Lit) Bat Paul Craig (Eco) par tko au 1er Round
- Mason Jones (GAL) bat Bolaji Oki (BEL) par TKO au 2e round
- Axel Sola (from) bat Rhys McKee (IRL) par TKO au 3e round
- William Gomis (FRA) bat Robert Ruchala (POL) to the unanimous decision
- Oumar and (FRA) bat Brendson Ribeiro (BRE) par TKO au 1er round
- Ante Delija (Cro) Bat Marcin Tybura (Pol/N ° 7) pair Who au 1er Round
- Kauê Fernandes (Bre) Bat Harry Hardwick (GBR) Par Tko Au 1er Round
- Sam Patterson (GBR) bat Trey Waters (USA) par TKO au 1er round
- Robert Bryczek (Pol) Bat Brad Tavares (USA) PAR TKO AU 3E Round
- Rinat Fakhretdinov (Rus) Bat Andreas Gustafsson (Sue) Par Tko Au 1er Round
- Sam Hughes (USA) beats Shauna Bannon (IRL) by submission to the 2nd round (rear strangulation)
