Combat & UFC
Ruffy Fought Rafael Fiziev With Herniated Disc After Nearly Being Pulled From Card
The Ariel Helwani Show
Mauricio Ruffy REVEALS He Almost Took His Life, Explains Why He's a Changed Man, Champ by 2027
"I caught the flu the week of the fight, on Saturday. My weight went up a lot, I lost weight while having the flu, feeling very ill. The UFC kind of pulled me from the fight, then gave me another chance. Half an hour before I could move forward, I developed a herniated disc in my back. I fell to the ground, I couldn't move, the FC doctors came in and started working on my back. I stepped into the octagon without being able to be 100%, and managed to knock out the athlete who was considered the best striker in the UFC."
Mauricio Ruffy revealed he was nearly removed from his Rafael Fiziev fight after contracting the flu, struggling with weight cut while sick, and then suffering a herniated disc in his back 30 minutes before entering the arena. UFC doctors treated him, he took medication to loosen up, and still managed to knock out Fiziev without being touched, calling it the moment he became a true soldier.
From this episode
The Ariel Helwani Show