Manoel Sousa earned a UFC deal on the Contender Series last
year. | Getty/UFC
Mauricio
Ruffy’s former opponent might have a shortcut to rise up the
rankings if he is successful in his
UFC debut.
Ruffy suffered his only professional loss outside the UFC against
Manoel
Sousa via knockout in 2019. Sousa (13-1) earned his UFC
contract with a knockout win on
Dana White’s Contender Series last year. “Manumito” is now
scheduled to make his Octagon debut against Bolaji Oki
(10-3) at
UFC Fight Night 269 on March 14 at the Apex in Las Vegas.
Ag.Fight was
first to report the booking.
Sousa has finished 11 of his 13 career wins so far, while only
losing Archie
Colgan in 2024. Meanwhile, Oki is 2-2 in the UFC since his
debut in 2024 and will look to rebound from a knockout loss against
Mason
Jones.
Ruffy (13-2) made his UFC debut in 2024 and quickly attained
stardom with a three-fight winning streak before losing to Benoit St.
Denis last year. The Brazilian has since rebounded with a
knockout win over Rafel Fiziev at UFC 325 last month.