A different opponent may have been planned for Mauricio Ruffy before the UFC finalized the lineup for the special June event scheduled at the White House.
Ruffy recently said that a fight with Conor McGregor was discussed during early planning for the card. According to the Brazilian lightweight, the Irish star had the chance to take the bout but decided not to move forward.
The UFC revealed the full lineup for the June 14 event last weekend. The show quickly became a topic of debate among fans. Many people expected a bigger list of fights after months of promotion by UFC president Dana White and United States President Donald Trump.
One of the biggest surprises was that McGregor was not included.
Ruffy Shares What He Heard
Ruffy spoke about the situation while appearing on the Overdogs Brazil podcast with former UFC champion Glover Teixeira.
During the conversation, he explained that the idea of facing McGregor had been mentioned before the final fights were set.
“Conor McGregor talked about the possibility of a fight, opened up the possibility of fighting,” Ruffy said.
“It was discussed, but he’s the one who makes the decisions and he made the decision not to fight.
“I also didn’t have high expectations about it.”
Ruffy suggested that the offer existed but the final call belonged to McGregor.
Michael Chandler Now Faces Ruffy
With the McGregor fight no longer an option, the UFC arranged a different matchup.
Ruffy will now fight Michael Chandler on the June card.
Chandler had previously been linked to McGregor for a long time. The two served as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter and were scheduled to fight in 2024. That contest never happened, although Chandler had hoped the matchup might still take place in the future.
Instead, Chandler now prepares to face Ruffy in Washington.
Just hours before the fight card became public, McGregor posted a message confirming that he would not compete at the event.
The former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion said the promotion preferred to schedule his return at a traditional arena show. According to McGregor, the UFC wanted an event where ticket sales could generate a large gate for his comeback.
Even though the McGregor bout did not happen, the upcoming contest still offers a major chance for Mauricio Ruffy.
Fighting Michael Chandler on such a high profile card could raise his standing in the lightweight division. A win over a well known opponent would bring more attention to the Brazilian contender.
For now, Ruffy prepares for Chandler while McGregor continues to search for the right moment for his long awaited return to the octagon.
