Highlights! Spinning Mauricio Ruffy demolishes spiraling Michael Chandler with sad first round knockout | UFC Freedom 250
Mauricio Ruffy just got the biggest win of his career.
The surging Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Brazilian Lightweight contender demolished divisional staple and former Lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler in the first round tonight (Sun., June 14, 2026) at UFC Freedom 250 live on Paramount+ on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., as UFC celebrated America’s 250th anniversary.
UFC knew exactly what it was doing with this matchup, and unfortunately for Chandler, it played out just like that … and it was tough to watch.
Chandler tried to implement his high-level wrestling early, but he could not get close enough to make it matter. Ruffy defended well and kept peppering the former Bellator champion with heavy jabs and kicks, making Chandler pay every time he tried to enter.
Ruffy rocked Chandler with a spinning wheel kick, but instead of rushing in for the kill, he stayed patient and crushed Chandler to the body. A few seconds later, Ruffy went right back to it, landing another spinning wheel kick that sent Chandler crashing to the canvas.
From there, Ruffy jumped on him with heavy follow-up shots, including a final uppercut that forced the referee to stop the fight.
Check out the finish below:
After the win, Ruffy made the night even more memorable by proposing to his longtime girlfriend through the cage.
She said yes.
Ruffy (14-2) entered the fight as the biggest betting favorite on the card, and he sure looked like it. The Brazilian contender is now riding a two-fight win streak and owns a ridiculous 93 percent finish rate, including 13 knockouts.
As for Chandler (23-11), his dream of winning at the White House was crushed in brutal fashion. The 40-year-old has now lost four straight fights and has not won since knocking out Tony Ferguson in 2022.
Sad stuff for “Iron” Mike.
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