Fighting Nerds coach praises 'genius' Mauricio Ruffy and declares his support for UFC 331: 'The Ronaldinho Gaúcho of MMA'

Ruffy focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

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This Saturday (19), Mauricio Ruffy faces the biggest challenge of his career. In the co-main event of UFC 331 , which takes place in California (USA), the Brazilian faces the feared Arman Tsarukyan , second in the lightweight ranking (up to 70,3 kg), and is considered the underdog to win. However, in the view of Flávio Álvaro, coach of the 'Fighting Nerds' academy, the athlete should not be dismissed prematurely.

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On the contrary, in an interview with 'PVT', the professional made a point of highlighting how special Ruffy is as a fighter. And the 'Dark Nerd's' analysis needs to be taken into account, given that he followed the athlete's training and development for years and has known him for a long time.

It's true that Ruffy is no longer part of the 'Fighting Nerds' and has joined the team of the legendary Alexander Volkanovski in Australia. In any case, Flávio Álvaro has no doubt that the athlete continues to dedicate himself to reaching the top of the category and not only cheers for him, but also believes that he is fully capable of surprising the Armenian, especially in striking, as he is exceptional in that area.

“I saw his quality, the athlete he was. Extremely skilled. He's the most skilled guy I've ever seen, Mauricio Ruffy. He's the Ronaldinho Gaúcho of MMA. He's a genius. So, my support, my heart, my mind are all focused on a great victory for Ruffy,” said the coach.

Pablo Sucupira and Flávio Álvaro before their UFC fight. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Mauricio Ruffy's history in the UFC

Mauricio Ruffy , 30, is part of the UFC's lightweight elite. Discovered on the Contender Series reality show in 2023, the Brazilian debuted in the world's largest MMA organization a year later, winning five fights, four by knockout, and losing one. Currently, he is ranked tenth in the division. His main victories were against Bobby Green , Michael Chandler , and Rafael Fiziev.

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