To earn a slot on a pay-per-view main card in your second fight in the UFC is nothing short of a nod of approval for a fighter on the rise.
The spot is coveted for a reason, and that is where Mauricio Ruffy found himself as he made his second walk to the Octagon, taking on James Llontop to open up UFC 309 in New York City. The opportunity came after he scored a debut knockout over Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 301 in Brazil, his 10th such victory in as many professional wins. That track record made Ruffy the biggest betting favorite on the card, and while he didn’t get the finish, he certainly delivered his fair share of highlights.