Ruffy vs Chandler — Lightweight · UFC Freedom 250
Scheduled · 14 Jun 2026
Tale of the Tape
- 13-2-0
- Record
- 23-10-0
- 4-1 last 5
- Recent form
- 1-4 last 5
- 29
- Age
- 40
- 1.80 m
- Height
- 1.73 m
- 191 cm
- Reach
- 180 cm
- Orthodox
- Stance
- Orthodox
- 92%
- Finish rate
- 78%
- 12
- Wins by KO/TKO
- 11
- 0
- Wins by submission
- 7
- 4.19
- Sig. strikes landed / min
- 4.04
- 4.09
- Sig. strikes absorbed / min
- 4.52
- 58%
- Striking defense
- 43%
- 85%
- Takedown defense
- 62%
- 9:00
- Avg. fight time
- 9:37
- Lightweight
- Weight class
- Lightweight
- Brazil
- Nationality
- USA
- Fighting Nerds · São Paulo
- Team
- Kill Cliff FC · Coconut Creek, FL
Career stats per UFC.com; recent form is each fighter's last five bouts. Numbers reflect records coming into fight night.
How the Fight Plays Out
Case for Ruffy
One of the most explosive young strikers in the division — Ruffy announced himself with a viral spinning wheel-kick knockout of Bobby Green and has gone 4-1 in the UFC with the Fighting Nerds. He's fast, unpredictable and supremely confident, and a signature win over a name like Chandler is exactly the stage he's built for.
Case for Chandler
A former three-time Bellator champion with concussive power and a relentless wrestling-boxing blend — Chandler has shared the cage with the very best at 155 lb and never been an easy night for anyone. If he can close distance, land the overhand and put Ruffy on his back, his experience and physicality are a real problem.
What to Watch
- Chandler is 1-4 across his last five — is the chin and the timing still there, or is the slide real?
- Ruffy's flash and creativity against Chandler's pressure and power — speed or violence?
- Can Chandler's wrestling neutralise Ruffy's striking, or does he get drawn into a firefight?
- A changing of the guard, or a veteran reminding the prospect how far he still has to go?
What the Experts Are Saying
Independent MMA analysts on this fight — who they pick, how, and the exact moment they say it. Tap any clip to hear it.
7 of 10 see a finish — 7 by KO/TKO.
The MMA Guru called 2 of 4 The MMA Guru: picks Ruffy — KO/TKO · R1
Chandler no longer has the strength game to control Ruffy ("Mauricio Huffy"), who finishes him violently on the feet.
Track record: winner called in 2 of 4 resolved picks.
We Want Picks called 2 of 5 We Want Picks: picks Ruffy — to win
Chandler will fight to entertain rather than wrestle, and Ruffy's big finishing power will smack him; one of the more confident picks on the card.
Track record: winner called in 2 of 5 resolved picks.
TheWeasle called 3 of 5 TheWeasle: picks Ruffy — KO/TKO · R1
Chandler's fight IQ won't let him wrestle on the White House card; he swings haymakers and gets flatlined by Ruffy's check left hook and right straight.
Track record: winner called in 3 of 5 resolved picks, 1 a perfect call.
Michael Bisping track record building Michael Bisping: picks Ruffy — KO/TKO
All signs point toward Ruffy getting a spectacular knockout. He's precise, taller and longer with spinning kicks and flying knees and now trains with Volkanovski, while Chandler has lost five of his last six and taken a lot of damage.
- Ruffy: precise, taller, longer, spinning and flying weapons, now at Volkanovski's camp
- Chandler 5 losses in his last 6 — invokes the Tony Ferguson decline comparison
“All signs pointing towards Mauricio Ruffy getting a spectacular knockout.”
Track record builds as we verify their past calls.
Demetrious Johnson track record building Demetrious Johnson: picks Ruffy — to win
DJ takes Ruffy as too dynamic and just as athletic as Chandler, with his eyes set on gold. He thinks Chandler is at the tail end of his career — one win in his last six — and is out there to have a good time rather than chase titles.
- Chandler 1-5 in his last six — late-career fade
- Ruffy's dynamic striking is the edge if he avoids the takedown
- Ruffy's one vulnerability is being grappled
“I'm going to go with Ruffy. I think he's just too dynamic.”
Track record builds as we verify their past calls.
The W.A.D.E. Concept track record building The W.A.D.E. Concept: picks Ruffy — KO/TKO · R1
Wade rates Ruffy as possibly one of the most talented strikers in the world, with size and reach edges, and is confident Chandler — who can't resist turning fights into brawls to please the crowd — invites exactly the firefight he shouldn't and gets brutally knocked out.
- His pick for Fight of the Night
- Hedge: if Chandler grapples early to tire Ruffy, it could differ
- Chandler throws caution to the wind to entertain
“First round knockout for Mauricio Ruffy.”
Track record builds as we verify their past calls.
Bedtime MMA track record building Bedtime MMA: picks Ruffy — KO/TKO · R3
He calls Chandler washed and expects Ruffy to systematically break him down. Chandler may find early success with kicks and pressure, but as he loses composure and abandons the game plan, Ruffy counters with uppercuts, knees and straight rights and finishes with ground-and-pound in the third.
- Chandler does okay early before fading
- Ruffy's grappling is underrated — can reverse and land elbows
- Expects a dominant third round and a TKO
“I'm going to say Mauricio Ruffy by round three TKO.”
Track record builds as we verify their past calls.
HopperoMMA track record building HopperoMMA: picks Ruffy — KO/TKO · R1
Ruffy is one of the most precise strikers in the division after his KO of Fiziev, while the 40-year-old Chandler is hittable, droppable and coming off poor showings — even Pimblett out-struck him. The host expects Ruffy to counter Chandler's wild swings with a big shot.
- High confidence; sees the UFC building Ruffy
- Only path to a loss is if his grappling hasn't improved and Chandler leans on it
- Likely retires Chandler
Track record builds as we verify their past calls.
Lucas Tracy track record building Lucas Tracy: picks Ruffy — KO/TKO · R1 (note: An early read — filmed ~2 weeks out (1 Jun), before fight week.)
Tracy says there's no need to overthink it: Chandler is old, inactive and washed off the worst performance of his career, while the younger, longer, faster Ruffy holds reach, height, speed and defence edges. He expects a jab-then-right-hand viral KO.
- Reach (3.5in), height, youth, speed and defence edges for Ruffy
- Even if taken down, Ruffy survives and gets back up to finish
- Ruffy's grappling likely improved with Volkanovski
“Ruffy is going to knock Michael Chandler out — first or second round, a viral KO.”
* An early read — filmed ~2 weeks out (1 Jun), before fight week.
Track record builds as we verify their past calls.
Rashad Evans track record building Rashad Evans: picks Ruffy — to win (note: A former champion's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.)
Rashad picks Ruffy, saying he has so many tools that even a harder-than-ever Chandler at this stage of his career won't be enough.
- Ruffy's deep toolbox is the difference
- Expects Chandler to fight hard but fall short
“I feel like it's not going to be enough. I got Ruffy for the win in this one.”
* A former champion's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ HQ Spotlight panel.
Track record builds as we verify their past calls.
Video
Ruffy and Chandler at their best — tap to play here.