UFC Freedom 250 Tale of the Tape: Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler

UFC fans, the wait is almost over.

The UFC Freedom 250 card is nearly here, and although we have to wait an extra day to watch the fights go down (this weekend's event is on Sunday, not Saturday), the anticipation and excitement is through the now-existent roof for the event held on the White House lawn.

Headlined by two title fights, the seven-bout card features some of the biggest names and best talent in mixed martial arts. And while the main event is for the lightweight title, a bout between two lower-ranked fighters in the division may provide the most fireworks when Mauricio Ruffy takes on Michael Chandler.

Ruffy, the ninth-ranked lightweight contender, is one of the rising stars in the UFC. Just 29 years old, he's already beat a top-15 mainstay and has an impressive highlight reel. Meanwhile, Chandler's career is dwindling down, but that won't stop the former Bellator champion from putting on a show.

Two stylistically different fighters. Two men at opposite ends of their careers. Both looking to make a statement. Let's break down the bout:

MAURICIO RUFFY
Nickname: N/A
Fighting out of: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Age: 29 | Height: five-foot-11 | Weight: 155 pounds
Arm reach: 75 inches | Leg reach: 41 inches
Stance: Orthodox
Background/style: Striking
Team/gym: Recently left Fighting Nerds, starting his own team
MMA record: 13-2 | UFC record: 4-1
Average fight time: 9:00

Notable accomplishments/credentials: No. 9-ranked lightweight, won Mega Fight Championship and Centurion FC title, 12 KO wins with eight first-round finishes, three UFC performance bonuses.

Biggest strength/best technique: Ruffy is a highly dynamic striker with impeccable movement. Standing five-foot-11, the Brazilian uses his length to measure his opponents, and he stays at his range throughout the bout. Ruffy throws individual shots and feints from distance to read movements and create openings. Once he understands the opposition and gets to work, he has an uncanny ability to finish the fight.

Highlighted by his eight first-round finishes, the 29-year-old inflicts tons of damage and stays composed enough to find the ending shot. But Ruffy's striking isn't limited to just his hands – he's a unique kickboxer, too. He goes after the legs, body and head, switches his stance and throws from nearly every angle. Spinning, side or teep kicks, you name it and Ruffy can do it.

Key to victory: Ruffy's best chance at beating Chandler lies in his ability to maintain distance. Holding a three-inch height advantage and arms that span 3.5 inches longer, the Brazilian can maximize his range and pick his shots while steering clear of takedown chances. With Chandler's constant forward pressure, Ruffy's lateral movement will be paramount to keeping an arms length away and staying in front of the black lines. He can move around the canvas and throw from unique angles to catch Chandler creeping in, and ultimately keep the bout clean.

Signature win/moment: Ruffy exploded on the UFC scene with a stellar knockout of Jamie Mullarkey. Making his pay-per-view debut after a win on the Contender Series, Ruffy made quick work of Mullarkey by connecting with a knee to the face, before putting him out with a plethora of punches. But for how good that finish was, Ruffy's most memorable win and moment was knocking out King Green with a spinning heel kick just over two minutes into their fight at UFC 313 where the Brazilian's creativity was on full display.

What a win would mean: A win over Chandler would be Ruffy's biggest name so far, and on the biggest possible stage. It would solidify the striker as a bonafide top-10 contender in the stacked division, and he'd join the mix of Paddy Pimblett, Arman Tsarukyan and Max Holloway, among others, among those in search of a lightweight title shot. While a chance at the belt may not be next on the table for Ruffy, it wouldn't be too far away.

MICHAEL CHANDLER
Nickname: Iron
Fighting out of: Deerfield Beach, Fla
Age: 40 | Height: five-foot-eigth | Weight: 156 pounds
Arm reach: 71.5 inches | Leg reach: 37.5 inches
Stance: Orthodox
Background/style: Wrestling
Team/gym: Kill Cliff FC
MMA record: 23-10 | UFC record: 2-5
Average fight time: 9:37

Notable accomplishments/credentials: No.13-ranked UFC lightweight, three-time Bellator MMA champion, 12 career title fights (1 in UFC), 13 first-round finishes, All-American collegiate wrestler (University of Missouri), jiu-jitsu black belt, three UFC Fight of the Night awards plus two performance bonuses.

Biggest strength/best technique: Don't be fooled by Chandler's short stature. The 40-year-old naturally is an inside fighter, and packs a punch. His explosive athleticism and power allows him to easily enter inside his striking range to open up power-shot opportunities, highlighted by his 11 KO/TKO wins over his MMA career that represent 48 per cent of his wins. But, being inside is also where his wresting background comes into play. Being at close distance poses the threat for take downs, where he shows off his signature double-leg. And among it all, Chandler will never back up. He is relentless in his forward pressure and never gives his opposition an inch. Chandler is a pick-your-poison type of fighter. Do you want to wrestle a former All-American, or will you take your chances on your feet?

Key to victory: For Chandler to have his hand raised at the end of the bout, he needs to do what he does best — be Michael Chandler. His relentless pressure is part of the reason he's on this card despite being just 2-5 in his UFC career, and he'll need to be in Ruffy's face in order to be successful. Getting the Brazilian up against the fence will lead to power shots and heavy damage, while simultaneously opening up the ground game. Being on the canvas has proved to be effective against Ruffy, whose lone UFC loss came by submission via rear-naked choke to Saint-Denis. Chandler, meanwhile, has finished seven of his wins by submission and three by rear-naked choke.

Signature win/moment: Chandler's resume is full of signature moments. From body slamming Charles Oliveira twice while Oliveira was on his back in the dying seconds of their five-round masterclass at UFC 309, to his quick first-round knockout of Dan Hooker in his promotion debut, Chandler is the embodiment of an entertainer. But his most iconic moment was his front-kick KO of Tony Ferguson at UFC 274. Chandler delivered a picture-perfect kick straight to Ferguson's jaw, knocking the former interim champion out cold and creating one of the more memorable finishes in UFC history.

What a win would mean: As harsh as it may sound, a win for Chandler at UFC Freedom 250 wouldn't do too much except keep him relevant in the lightweight rankings. At 40 years old, it's no secret he's in the twilight of his career. He's already been relegated to fighting the young risers of the division, as opposed to the established guys at the top of the rankings. The lightweight division is also home to the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world in Ilia Topuria, and it seems unlikely that the young champ and Chandler are on a collision course.

Beating Ruffy, at the White House nonetheless, can earn Chandler a big-ticket opponent (maybe he looks to the winner of UFC 329's Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway?), but a loss may give the popular American fighter another up-and-comer like Quillan Salkilld. Regardless, he's a big name and an entertainer, is a fitting addition to this card, and will be a staple on big UFC cards for as long as he continues to put on the gloves.