Mauricio Ruffy Expects Jack Della Maddalena to Knock Out Islam Makhachev

Mauricio Ruffy believes Belal Muhammad’s loss to Jack Della Maddalena is a sign of things to come.

In an interview on Laerte Viana’s YouTube channel, Ruffy analyzed the UFC 315 main event. Muhammad, who has a close relationship with the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, struggled to implement his preferred style against his Australian opponent.

“I've seen this fight three times. Maddalena fought very well, very intelligently, taking the angle and anticipating Belal's takedowns and imposing his own,” Ruffy said. “He did exactly what I would do. Maybe I would land few more counter strikes. The fact is that fighters are increasingly reading the ugly game of these Russians and falling less. A natural process of MMA evolution.”

While Muhammad isn’t Russian, his grinding approach isn’t unlike some of his Dagestani counterparts. Ruffy has plans on creating a shirt that answers one the Dagestanis made as a taunt to Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

“Khabib made a shirt saying that if sambo were easy it would be called jiu-jitsu. I’m going to make another one. If I wanted to fight ugly, I would train sambo,” Ruffy joked.

With recent events in mind, Ruffy likes Maddalena’s chances against Makhachev, who vacated the lightweight belt to pursue at title fight at 170 pounds.

“I believe that Madalena will knock him out,” Ruffy said.