Benoît Saint-Denis Silences Mauricio Ruffy with Rear-Naked
“God of War” Delivers in Front of a Roaring French Crowd
On September 6, 2025, inside the electric Accor Arena in Paris, Benoît Saint-Denis delivered one of the most dominant performances of his career, submitting rising Brazilian striker Mauricio Ruffy via rear-naked choke in Round 2. The co-main event of UFC Paris was billed as a clash of styles—Saint-Denis’ relentless grappling versus Ruffy’s explosive striking—and it was the Frenchman who imposed his will from the opening bell.
Round 1: Relentless Pressure and Grappling Control
Saint-Denis wasted no time initiating the action, landing a heavy left kick before driving Ruffy to the canvas with a clinch trip. From mount, he threatened an arm triangle and transitioned to back control, forcing Ruffy to scramble and escape. But Saint-Denis wasn’t done—he landed another takedown along the fence and continued to advance position while the French crowd erupted.
Ruffy struggled to find space, absorbing body kicks and failing to land any significant offense. Saint-Denis’ pressure and positional dominance kept the Brazilian on the defensive throughout the round.
Round 2: The Choke That Ended It All
Ruffy came out swinging in Round 2, landing a flying knee and briefly reversing a takedown. But fatigue was setting in, and Saint-Denis capitalized. After an extended clinch exchange, he secured another takedown, took the back, and locked in a crushing rear-naked choke. Ruffy initially resisted, but the squeeze tightened until the tap came at 2:56 of Round 2.
“Saint-Denis wasted little time bringing the fight to Ruffy… Soon enough, Saint-Denis was on the back and slapped on a rear-naked choke. The squeeze kept getting tighter and tighter until he tapped” — MMA Junkie
Saint-Denis’ Momentum Surges
With this win, Saint-Denis improves to 15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC, and extends his streak to two consecutive submission victories, following his arm triangle finish over Kyle Prepolec at UFC 315. The French lightweight has now positioned himself for a potential Top 10 opponent and expressed interest in fighting again soon—possibly at Madison Square Garden in November.
Ruffy, who entered the bout on a seven-fight win streak, saw his momentum halted. Despite early success in the UFC, questions now loom about his ability to handle elite grapplers.
What’s Next for “God of War”?
Saint-Denis’ performance was a masterclass in pressure fighting and submission control. With the Paris crowd behind him and a growing resume of finishes, he’s quickly becoming one of the most dangerous lightweights in the division. A ranked opponent or a high-profile slot on a major card seems inevitable.
For full fight stats and post-event coverage, visit MMA Junkie’s UFC Paris recap and Bloody Elbow’s breakdown.
