UFC Fight Night: Jose Mauro Delano vs Robert Ruchala Preview & Prediction
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Opening up the main card, a clash between two UFC newcomers as Jose Delano looks to build on his impressive DWCS debut against former KSW champion Robert Ruchala.
Jose Mauro Delano vs Robert Ruchala facts
What time are Jose Mauro Delano and Robert Ruchala expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Duncan? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Duncan? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 272
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Duncan on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Duncan? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Duncan main card
Renato Moicano vs Chris Duncan (Lightweight)
Virna Jandiroba vs Tabatha Ricci (Women’s Strawweight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)
Ethyn Ewing vs Rafael Estevam (Bantamweight)
Tommy McMillen vs Manolo Zecchini (Featherweight)
Jose Mauro Delano vs Robert Ruchala (Featherweight)
UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Duncan prelims
Guilherme Pat vs Thomas Petersen (Heavyweight)
Alessandro Costa vs Stewart Nicoll (Flyweight)
Lando Vannata vs Darrius Flowers (Lightweight)
Alice Pereira vs Hailey Cowan (Women’s Bantamweight)
Azamat Bekoev vs Tresean Gore (Middleweight)
Dione Barbosa vs Melissa Gatto (Women’s Flyweight)
Jose Mauro Delano: Brazilian Top Team product looking to announce himself in style
Jose Delano (16-3) arrived in the UFC off the back of a statement Contender Series performance, landing nearly 150 significant strikes in an impressive showing against Manuel Exposito to earn his contract in dominant fashion. The Brazilian Top Team featherweight is a fluid, well-rounded striker who moves around constantly between stances, mixing kicks to all three levels with sharp boxing and well-timed step-in knees, all underpinned by good head movement and lateral footwork. Accurate and defensively responsible, Delano looks UFC ready at featherweight and showed levels against Exposito, a clear skill gap was on display from the opening round.
Robert Ruchala: Former KSW champion looking for his get back
Robert Ruchala (11-2) arrives in the UFC with serious European pedigree, having twice held the KSW interim featherweight title before making the jump to the promotion. His UFC debut against William Gomis at UFC Paris was a tough entrance, he showed some craftiness on the feet with fast kicks and sneakily stepping on his opponent's foot to cut the distance for his 1-2s, but Gomis exposed his limitations. Ruchala is heavy on his feet and struggles to track down fast opponents, and his striking lacks efficiency at the higher level. When the stand-up wasn't going his way against Gomis, he gravitated towards the clinch and grappling to grind out rounds.
Jose Mauro Delano vs Robert Ruchala prediction
The gap in the striking here looks significant. Delano's constant movement and dynamic striking variety is the kind of puzzle that Ruchala struggled to solve against Gomis, who was considerably less dynamic than the Brazilian. Ruchala's tell on his entries, the little hop he does before he closes the distance, is the kind of readable habit that Delano's timing and counter-punching game will exploit. His reach advantage is there, but unlikely to compensate for Delano's footwork and accuracy.
Ruchala's path to victory almost certainly requires dragging this into the clinch early and grinding Delano against the fence, where his grappling and sharp knees can accumulate damage and disrupt rhythm. The problem is that Delano's lateral movement and distance management make him difficult to pin down, and his ground game should be sharp enough to handle the grappling threat on the floor. If Delano can pick his shots well, and stays sharp enough to avoid Ruchala's best entries, he may even be able to get an early finish on the feet here. That being said Ruchala has only been finished on the feet once in his career - either way, Delano is a lock.
Prediction: Jose Delano to win
