UFC Fight Night 258: Benoit Saint Denis vs Mauricio Ruffy Preview & Prediction
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The co-main event takes place in the incredibly stacked lightweight division as hometown hero Benoît Saint Denis takes on rising star Mauricio Ruffy.
Benoit Saint Denis vs Mauricio Ruffy facts
What time are Benoit Saint Denis and Mauricio Ruffy expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho? Accor Arena, Paris, France
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 258
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho main card
Nassourdine Imavov vs Caio Borralho (Middleweight)
Benoit Saint Denis vs Mauricio Ruffy (Lightweight)
Modestas Bukauskas vs Paul Craig (Light Heavyweight)
Bolaji Oki vs Mason Jones (Lightweight)
Rhys McKee vs Axel Sola (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho prelims
William Gomis vs Robert Ruchala (Featherweight)
Oumar Sy vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)
Marcin Tybura vs Ante Delija (Heavyweight)
Harry Hardwick vs Kaue Fernandez (Lightweight)
Sam Patterson vs Trey Waters (Welterweight)
Brad Tavares vs Robert Bryczek (Middleweight)
Andreas Gustafsson vs Rinat Fakhretdinov (Welterweight)
Shauna Bannon vs Sam Hughes (Women’s Strawweight)
Benoît Saint Denis: “God of War” bringing relentless pressure
Benoît Saint Denis (14-3), nicknamed “God of War,” returns to action at 29 years old with the home crowd behind him. Ranked #13 at lightweight, the Frenchman holds a 6-3 UFC record and is known for his marauding style. Most recently, he submitted late replacement Kyle Prepolec with a first-round arm-triangle choke, a result that was widely expected. Before that, however, Saint Denis endured two punishing losses: a doctor stoppage defeat to Renato Moicano in Paris and a knockout at the hands of Dustin Poirier. Those setbacks snapped the momentum of a five-fight UFC winning streak in which he had finished every opponent.
With 71% of his victories coming via submission, Saint Denis thrives when he can drag opponents into his world. He is a relentless pressure fighter with powerful wrestling, a solid ground game, and dangerous submission skills. While his toughness is unquestioned, his willingness to take damage can leave openings for sharp strikers to exploit.
Mauricio Ruffy: “One Shot” chasing a statement finish
Brazil’s Mauricio Ruffy (12-1), known as “One Shot,” has burst onto the UFC scene with a perfect 3-0 start in the promotion. The 29-year-old is riding a seven-fight winning streak and has quickly built a reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous strikers. After debuting with a first-round knockout of Jamie Mullarkey, he followed up with a decision victory over James Llontop before delivering a viral highlight-reel knockout against Bobby Green via spinning heel kick in the opening round.
Ruffy has finished 92% of his career wins by KO/TKO, underlining his lethal striking credentials. Training out of the surging Fighting Nerds gym in Brazil, he brings a wide karate stance, elite accuracy, and devastating kicking techniques. His timing and explosiveness make him a nightmare match-up for anyone, and his one-shot knockout power gives him the ability to end fights in an instant.
Benoît Saint Denis vs Mauricio Ruffy prediction.
While Saint Denis has faced higher-level opposition in the UFC, he has also come up short when taking that step up. He holds an advantage in wrestling and grappling, but Ruffy’s takedown defence has proven strong enough to allow him to keep the fight standing.
Ruffy is the faster, sharper striker and carries significantly more knockout threat. Given Saint Denis’s lack of elusiveness, this feels like a stylistic nightmare for the Frenchman. Expect Ruffy to find the target with a clean shot and silence the Paris crowd with another violent finish — firmly establishing himself as a serious contender with a new number next to his name in this very deep division.
Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy to win by KO/TKO
