The UFC returns to Paris with a lightweight banger: Benoît Saint Denis vs Mauricio Ruffy.
France’s Benoît “God of War” Saint Denis welcomes Brazilian knockout artist Mauricio “One Shot” Ruffy to the Accor Arena spotlight.
Slated for Saturday, September 6, 2025, in Paris and listed as a featured/co-main attraction on the Imavov vs. Borralho card, this matchup blends relentless pressure and grappling from BSD with Ruffy’s rangy, high-octane striking.
Event Snapshot
- Event: UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho
- Date & location: September 6, 2025 — Accor Arena, Paris, France
- Division: Lightweight (155 lb)
- Bout billing: Featured/co-main slot.
Tale of the Tape
- Benoît Saint Denis
- Nickname: God of War
- Record: 14–3 (1 NC)
- Height/Reach: 5’11” / 73″
- Team: CYFIT
- Notable recent opponents: Dustin Poirier, Renato Moicano
- Fighting base: Pressure striker–grappler with strong top control and submissions.
- Mauricio Ruffy
- Nickname: One Shot
- Record: 12–1 (11 KO/TKO)
- Height/Reach: 5’11” / 75″
- Team: Fighting Nerds
- Recent UFC wins: James Llontop (Nov 16, 2024), King Green (Mar 8, 2025, spinning wheel-kick KO, Performance of the Night)
- Fighting base: Long, clean boxing and kicking with counter power.
Why it matters: BSD brings Parisian crowd energy and a ferocious pace; Ruffy arrives on a seven-fight streak with finishing power and a five-inch reach edge.
Form & Momentum
- Saint Denis rebounded onto the UFC 315 card earlier this year after a turbulent spring and aims to reset at home following high-level setbacks (Poirier/Moicano). The promotion quickly re-booked him into meaningful spots, signaling continued belief in his ceiling at 155.
- Ruffy has been one of 2024–25’s breakout lightweights, punching his ticket with two statement wins—most memorably a spinning wheel-kick KO in March 2025. Power carries, and his finishing ratio proves it.
Striking: Mechanics, Weapons, & Defense
Mauricio Ruffy (edge: range & accuracy)
- Range tools: Active jab, calf kicks, and switch-kick threats that play well with his 75″ reach. He prefers to operate just outside boxing range and strikes opponent.
- Shot selection: Mixes straight rights with high kicks; the wheel-kick KO over King Green shows dexterity and timing at head-kick range.
- Numbers snapshot: The UFC profile lists him as a striker with strong efficiency; publicly posted figures show high accuracy (≈approximately 58%) and a balanced strike-for-strike output in the early UFC sample. (Stat snapshot referenced from UFCStats listing.)
- Defensive habits: Leans on distance management and hand position rather than relying on heavy head movement; can be vulnerable during extended flurries when he plants to counter.
Benoît Saint Denis (edge: pressure & power combinations)
- Forward pressure: BSD’s game ignites when he forces pocket exchanges—hard southpaw crosses (he switches stances), short uppercuts, and knees along the fence to set up level-changes.
- Kicking game: Brutal body and low kicks to slow lateral movers before crashing the pocket.
- Defensive considerations: The high-tempo style can leave him open to counters during entries; elite strikers have found success catching him on his way in.
Striking summary:
- At long range, Ruffy thrives.
- In the phone booth and along the fence, BSD narrows the margins with volume and physicality.
Wrestling & Clinch
Benoît Saint Denis (edge: takedowns & chain wrestling)
- Entries: Shoots off punching combinations; if the first attempt stalls, he chains to body locks, trips, and mat returns.
- Fence work: Excellent head position, underhook battles, and knee-tap finishes when opponents try to circle out.
- Top control: Prioritizes chest-to-chest pressure, quick transitions to half guard, and wrist rides to open ground-and-pound lanes. (Observed trends from his UFC run and profile history.)
Mauricio Ruffy
- Takedown defense: Developing; his length helps him post and frame, but prolonged clinches are where he’s most at risk.
- Offensive wrestling: Sparing—he uses level change feints mostly to reset striking rhythms. (Based on early UFC tape and stat profile.)
Wrestling summary:
- BSD owns the more complete wrestling toolkit and should test Ruffy’s balance and wall-walking repeatedly.
- Ruffy must win first-contact frames and immediately pummel for inside control to keep it standing.
Grappling & Ground Game
- BSD’s top game (edge: submissions & damage):
- Looks for back takes from half-guard scrambles and rides opponents to flatten them out.
- Sub threats: rear-naked choke, arm-triangle transitions once he passes.
- GnP: elbows from half guard to create submission reactions.
- Ruffy off his back:
- Primarily defensive—aims to re-guard, post, and stand rather than hunt submissions.
- Needs to keep his hips mobile and avoid giving up wrist control against the fence.
Grappling summary:
If BSD plants Ruffy early, the round-winning equity tilts heavily toward the Frenchman’s top pressure.
Pace, Cardio & Durability
- Pace: BSD fights at a top-quartile pace for the division when he’s flowing, weaponizing attrition. Ruffy keeps a measured, efficient output that spikes during finishing windows.
- Cardio: Five-minute bursts favor Ruffy’s crispness; extended clinch and mat time favor BSD.
- Durability: BSD’s wars with elite names showed both his toughness and the risks of aggressive entries; Ruffy hasn’t endured the same level of sustained grappling pressure in the UFC yet.
Intangibles & Experience
- Home-field surge: Fighting in Paris has historically amplified BSD’s urgency and crowd-driven momentum.
- Schedule quality: BSD has already navigated the top-10 danger; Ruffy is stepping into that tier now after highlight-reel wins over prospects and veterans.
Keys to Victory
Benoît Saint Denis
- Win the first clinch: Crash distance behind a two-piece, secure an underhook, and turn Ruffy to the fence.
- Chain wrestle, not burst wrestle: One shot to body lock to trip—make Ruffy work through layers.
- Cook on top: Half-guard shoulder pressure, elbows, and hand traps before chasing the back.
Mauricio Ruffy
- First-line defense: Jab and calf kick to intercept entries; pivot off the cage rather than backing straight up.
- Counter discipline: Punish the level change—uppercut/knee up the middle when BSD dips.
- Urgent get-ups: Use the fence immediately; do not play closed guard vs a rider like BSD.
Stylistic Matchup & Early Lean (Non-betting Opinion)
- Path of least resistance:
- BSD: clinch → takedown → half-guard control → damage/sub threats.
- Ruffy: control range → force entries → land counters and high kicks.
If the fight stays predominantly at kickboxing range, Ruffy’s length and accuracy give him the edge. If more than ~6–7 minutes are contested in clinch and top positions, BSD’s pressure game should bank rounds or set up a late finish.
Slight lean: whoever controls where the fight happens wins—with BSD as the positional favorite and Ruffy as the finishing threat at distance.
Recent Results & Records (Quick Reference)
- Benoît Saint Denis: 14–3 (1 NC) overall; recently rebooked after spring setbacks, remained an ESPN-listed matchup magnet, and returns to Paris in a marquee spot.
- Mauricio Ruffy: 12–1 overall; 2–0 in UFC since Nov 2024 with a KO of the Year contender (spinning wheel kick) in March 2025.
What to Watch For on Fight Night
- Round 1: Does BSD get to the body lock within the first 90 seconds? If yes, Ruffy’s TTD and wall-walks will be tested immediately.
- Middle minutes: Ruffy’s jab/low-kick output—if BSD’s lead leg reddens early, entries become riskier.
- Reversals: Scrambles off single-leg finishes; if Ruffy threatens front-headlock knees/uppercuts, the striking momentum can flip fast.
Fight Prediction
Our fight prediction for Benoît Saint Denis vs Mauricio Ruffy is Benoît Saint Denis via submission. Benoît Saint Denis’ jiu-jitsu is at a high level, so BSD has the edge, but Ruffy from the fighting nerd can get the game with his striking.
But based on the technical analysis, Benoît Saint Denis is the favorite.