Benoit Saint-Denis will face off against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Paris on September 6th, with both fighters looking to make a statement in front of the French crowd and assert themselves as real contenders in the Lightweight division. For Benoit Saint-Denis, this fight will serve as an opportunity to reassert himself as one of the most dangerous lightweights on the planet following recent troubles in the octagon. For Mauricio Ruffy, it is an opportunity for him to continue his great form at Lightweight and claim the biggest win of his career so far and thus assert himself as a dangerous contender in the division.
Benoit Saint-Denis seemed destined to be amongst the next generation of top Lightweights before his KO loss to Dustin Poirier back in March 2024 at UFC 299. The fight was hugely disappointing for the Frenchman, as he was seemingly dominating the fight beforehand. Saint-Denis’ next fight against Renato Moicano saw him dominated in both the grappling and striking exchanges, with the doctor ultimately stepping in in round two. His most recent fight back in May saw him return to form against Kyle Prepolec as he won the fight via submission in round two. Saint-Denis is a very dangerous and well-rounded fighter, and despite losing to Dustin Poirier, that fight showed he has the skills to compete with the best Lightweights in the world, as he was seemingly dominating the grappling and striking exchanges before the KO.
Mauricio Ruffy is one of the most exciting Lightweight prospects right now, with many comparing his fight style to that of young Conor McGregor. Since joining the UFC, he has won three of three fights and sports an impressive 12-1 record. His last win against King Green saw him deliver one of the knockouts of the year, as he flatlined Green via spinning heel kick in round one. His wins against James Llontop and Jamie Mullarkey in the UFC have also gained the Brazilian praise, with his easy-on-the-eye fight style garnering the attention of many fans.
This fight is one of the most intriguing fights of the year, and a win for either fighter will likely propel them into fights against the higher-ranked fighters of the division. It will be interesting to see how Saint-Denis’ grappling-heavy style fairs against Ruffy’s striking, with the outcome likely dependent on whether Saint-Denis can close the distance and get the fight to he ground, or whether Ruffy can keep it on the feet and use his many weapons.
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