Mauricio Ruffy’s rise in mixed martial arts is entirely different than you would expect – Ruffy served as a bodyguard to a Chinese millionaire to fund his early martial arts career.

Before Ruffy embraced his MMA career and became a star, he struggled funding the fighter lifestyle. One of his close friends and fellow fighter, Flavio Alvaro introduced him to a Chinese millionaire businessman who was ready to invest and nurture up-and-coming fighters.

Mauricio Ruffy immediately started working as a bodyguard for the businessman. This role required him to split time between São Paulo and Taiwan, offering security while, also training in various gyms.

Mauricio Ruffy Bodyguard

While the job was financially rewarding, it came with its own set of challenges. Language barriers, cultural adjustments, and the unpredictability of his employer’s needs kept Ruffy on his toes. According to the fighter, he never understood what they were trying to say.

 Mauricio Ruffy describes his life as a bodyguard “I was his bodyguard and would go to a bunch of gyms there to train,” Ruffy said. “He paid us good money and invested in our careers, but I couldn’t wait to get back to Brazil. It was really tough not actually engaging in any conversation for three months. I’ve learned a lot there, though. In general, it was a great experience.”

The Chinese businessman’s investments in Ruffy are paying off as he is closing the gap between him and the top talent of the welterweight division.

UFC 313 Green vs Ruffy

Ruffy stole the show in the T-Moblie arena on Saturday with a highlight knockout for the ages! At UFC 313, Ruffy delivered a devastating spinning wheel kick knockout against King Green. Mauricio Ruffy earned a Performance of the Night bonus for his absolutely wild wheel kick knockout of King Green.

Since joining the UFC, he has established himself as a rising star with an impressive professional record of 11 wins and just one defeat. Ruffy’s most recent victory at UFC 313 extended his winning streak to seven.

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