With UFC 329 just days away, the promotion has added an insurance policy for its highly anticipated main event. Rising Brazilian contender Mauricio Ruffy has confirmed he will travel to Las Vegas as the official backup fighter for the July 11 showdown between .
Brazilian lightweight Mauricio Ruffy is heading to Las Vegas with a unique assignment. The fast-rising prospect has been named the official backup fighter for the UFC 329 main event between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway on July 11.
If either McGregor or Holloway is forced to withdraw before fight night, Ruffy will be on standby to step into the headlining bout.
Ruffy receives backup assignment from UFC
Ruffy revealed on Instagram that the UFC reached out while he was enjoying a vacation. According to the Brazilian, the promotion instructed him to stay in fighting shape and be ready in case he is needed during fight week.
“Tomorrow Monday I will be traveling to Las Vegas,”
“If you need me, I’ll be ready!”
In a video accompanying the post, the Brazilian explained that he immediately resumed training after hearing from the promotion.
“I took good care of myself, these guys made me train halfway through my vacation,”
Ruffy is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career after a dominant victory over Michael Chandler at the UFC White House event last month. That performance helped put him in position for the backup assignment.
Brazilian welcomes either matchup
While his primary responsibility is simply being available, Ruffy admitted he has already imagined how he would match up against either man.
“Me against Conor McGregor, I believe it would be a very good fight,”
“I believe a fight I would make easier by the fact of rhythm and everything else, right?”
He also shared his thoughts on a potential clash with Holloway.
“And against Max Holloway, I believe in my knockout power. He’s a guy that doesn’t seek to play forward there all the time, but I go there to define the fights and I don’t miss my chances.”
“It would be really cool to see this fight happen.”
McGregor is preparing for his first fight in five years, while Holloway enters the bout looking to spoil the Irish star’s long-awaited return. With Ruffy now on standby in Las Vegas, the UFC has a replacement in place should anything change before the main event.