Michael Chandler brutally knocked out at UFC White House as Mauricio Ruffy proposes after victory

Jun 15, 2026 - 03:45

Mauricio Ruffy dominated Michael Chandler in a statement victory at UFC White House on Sunday before proposing to his fiancée.

The Brazilian cracked Chandler with two nasty spinning wheel kicks that had the American on wobbly legs in the third fight of the UFC Freedom 250 show.

Mauricio Ruffy of Brazil strikes Michael Chandler in a lightweight fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC — Ruffy lit up Chandler at all stages of the opening round

Mauricio Ruffy of Brazil reacts to his win in a lightweight fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC — The 29-year-old dropped Chandler with his second spinning wheel kick before finishing the fight on the canvas

Chandler was stumbling all over the place after the second kick from Ruffy, who then found the finish with a series of right hands as Chandler sank to his knees.

Referee Mike Beltran called a stop to the contest with 31 seconds left in the first round.

The top-ranked lightweight clash came after Diego Lopes scored a stunning knockout over Steve Garcia to kick off the historic UFC White House event.

Bo Nickal, too, had emphatically finished Kyle Daukaus at 185lbs before celebrating with US President Donald Trump.

Ruffy, the biggest betting favourite on the card, was expected to go out and finish a 40-year-old Chandler early.

And the No. 10-ranked UFC lightweight did exactly that, showing off all kinds of deadly weapons he possesses in the process.

She said yes!

“Thank you for everything, Dana White, congratulations on this spectacular event,” Ruffy told Joe Rogan after thanking his family.

“I’ve been training so much to be the champion of this division and I’m so happy with this win.”

Speaking about fighting for the title, with his division’s belt on the line in Ilia Topuria‘s headliner against Justin Gaethje later in the evening, Ruffy added: “I want to be the champion. I do believe that I’m next up for the title shot.

“We’ve been having some conversations.”

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A general view of the Octagon during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC — It was quite the spectacle at the White House on Sunday evening

U.S. President Donald J. Trump shakes hands with Bo Nickal in a middleweight fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC — US President Donald Trump had a front row seat for the action, embracing Bo Nickal after his victory in the second fight of the night

The 29-year-old then went off-script, asking his partner to marry him on the grandest stage of them all.

“What better place to ask my wife to get married!” Ruffy said.

“I love you. Would you marry me since we’re right here on the White House?”

Rogan confirmed Ruffy’s partner gave a thumbs-up as she watched on.

That makes it two wins for the Brazilian on such a special occasion.

Ruffy will now look up the rankings at 155lbs to the likes of Paddy Pimblett and Charles Oliveira, as he’s now realistically only one fight away from getting a title shot.