Ruffy Gets New UFC 309 Opponent After Campbell Withdraws
Mauricio Ruffy’s planned UFC 309 bout with Charlie Campbell was briefly in doubt after Campbell withdrew for undisclosed reasons. James Llontop stepped in, and Ruffy ultimately fought at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024, winning a unanimous decision. The replacement bout was contested at a 165-pound catchweight after Llontop missed the limit.
Campbell Withdraws, Llontop Steps In
Campbell withdrew about a week before the event, with no reason publicly disclosed in the announcement. The UFC later booked Peruvian fighter James Llontop as Ruffy’s replacement. MMA Fighting reported the opponent change.
The Catchweight Bout and Result
The matchup was changed from lightweight to a 165-pound catchweight. At weigh-ins, Ruffy came in at 164.4 pounds and Llontop at 166.2. The UFC’s official weigh-in report said Llontop forfeited 20 percent of his purse to Ruffy for missing the agreed limit.
Ruffy and Llontop went the distance. All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for Ruffy, giving him a unanimous-decision win on the UFC 309 opening bout of the pay-per-view main card. See the UFC’s official preliminary results.
An Opponent Change, Not a Cancelled Fight
That changed when Llontop accepted the replacement bout. Ruffy made the card, competed at catchweight, and left New York with a decision victory.
