Greatness of Marco Ruas : King of the Streets

Marco Ruas was the first fighter to win a UFC tournament using a different way of victory in each fight. He was one of the first well rounded fighters in MMA and UFC, the first good Brazilian striker in the UFC as well. Grappled for many years before turning pro.

In a Jiu Jiutsu vs Martial Arts tournament IN 1984 Marco Ruas debuted and fought to a 20 minute draw with Fernandu Pinduka. Not even going to pretend to know anyhting about this one. It was both mens first MMA fights, Ended in a draw.

11 years go before Marco has his 2nd MMA fight. He enters UFC 7.

At the Brawl in Buffalo Marco Ruas faces Larry Cureton in the first round, Cureton was atought fighter but was outmatched, Cureton is standing Ruas on his back, Ruas grabs the ankle, Cureton falls and rolls into a heel hook just after 3 minutes. Marco Ruas gets his first MMA victory.

Later that night Marco faces one of the first hyped fighters in the UFC to not live up to the hype. Remco Pardoel (9-6-1) was one of the top submission experts in the MMA at that time. In a highly entertaining bout that goes over 10 minutes Ruas and Pardol trade submission attempts and strikes. However Marco is getting the better of Pardoel. After 12 minutes Pardoel taps out due to positioning wit Ruas on top.

In the finals at UFC 7 Marco Ruas is facing 6'7 Paul Varelans who basically learned MMA on the fly in the UFC. At 6'7 Varelans was a very game early day UFC fighter competing in numerous tournaments. This match ended up being the first one to show the importance of leg kicks as Marco chopped and welted up the much bigger Varelans. You could see Varelan losing some mobility with each kick. In a very action packed final with both men standing finally after 13 minutes Varelans takes a leg kick and keels over. Marco swoops on him and reigns down punches, the fight is stopped.

Marco Ruas is 3-0-1 and the winner of UFC 7 Tournament. He was marketed like an earlier Ricardo Mayorga with his King of the Streets attitude, UFC claimed he had won over 100 street fights!

Later in the year Marco Rua's enters the Ultimate Ultimate 1995.

In his first bout he is facing Keith Hackney (The Giant and Nut Killer), Hackney who many thought was going to be the toughest test of Ruas' career , was not. He was choked out in just over 2 minutes.

Next up Marco is facing Oleg Taktarov. In a bout that goes the time limit and sees Ruas on his back and bloodied up, Oleg wins the first frame IMO. Then in Overtime Oleg is able to do enough to eek out a close but deserving victory. 18 minutes, Unanimous Decision Oleg Taktarov. Marco Ruas is 4-1-1 and has lost his first fight.

Marco leaves the UFC and goes to the World Vale Tudo Championships.

Marco is facing Steve Jennum, the alternate to win UFC 3 who was a tough nut and in a extremely entertaing bout with Varelans. It doesn't matter, Jennum is tapping out due to strikes in jsut over a minute.

Next up is the rematch with Oleg, in a very long match with one of the oddest final times of all time. 31 minutes and 12 seconds. I thought Oleg did enough to win, the match was close though. Marco did do better in this one than the first one IMO though. Either way the fight is a draw after 30 minutes. Marco is 5-1-2.

At World vale Tudo 4 Marco faces the always game Patrick Smith, Pat lasts 40 seconds and is heel hooked.

March 1998 Marco goes to Pride 2 and faces Gary Goodridge. In an entertaining fight that sees Big Daddy landing good punches and Marco working the ground eventually after 9 minutes Marco gets a ankle and heel hooks Gary Goodridge. Marco is 7-1-2.

At Pride 4 Marco is fighting Alexander Otsuka , in a fight Marco is winning he leg kicks Alexander and is forced to retire due to injury. He doesn't fight for 9 months,

At UFC 21 Marco Ruas is facing Maurice Smith. Just to say gentleman, think how great these men would have been if MMA and NHB had developed sooner. When this fight took place Maurice Smith WAS 37 AND Marco Ruas WAS 38!!!!!!!!!! Marco came out got a early takedown, what happens? Maurice Smith on his back thats what happens, he had a great bottom control. Ruas couldnt even get punches off. Maurice moves away from the cage to the center at one point. With 1 minute left Maurice gets the butterfly guard. Marco rolls and gets a leg, 50 seconds left and Marco is slapping a mean anknle lock on Maurice. Maurice 1 leg ups 1 knee down and spins fast, Marco still has an ankle then boom, Maurice Smith's athleticism wins and he has top half mount. then boom again Marco has a ankle, round ends.

Maurice gets up, Marco waddles to his corner in pain, no one knows what the hell happened. He blew a knee out. Maurice wins corner retire. It is Marco Ruas' last fight in the UFC.

After the loss Marco went to Ultimate Pankration 1 and beat Jason Lambert in a 50 second heel hook. 2 years after the Smith injury.

6 years go by and in 2007 Marco Ruas returned to fight for the IFL title against Maurice Smith. In a highly entertaing fight with both men in their 40's they go to war one last time and Maurice gets the better of Marco in the long run. In the middle of the 4th round Marco's corner stops the fight.

It is Marco Ruas' last MMA fight and he retires with a record of 8-4-2.

Went 5-1 in 1995 in 6 UFC bouts. Fought 2 All Time Greats in Oleg Taktarov and Maurice Smith going 0-3-1 against them, but beat good fighters in Pardoel, Patrick Smith, Varelans, Goodridge, Hackney, Jennum, and Cureton. Most of the names were all early UFC fighters but at the time those men were all good fighters. Impressive list with only 14 fights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_rmv8LGMms UFC 21 Marco Ruas vs Maurice Smith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfsJbTJbgDs&feature=related Ruas vs Hackney

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wYXi5vxNkQ&feature=related Ruas vs Pat Smith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j5kOYqJeN0&feature=fvw Ruas Highlight has Varelans , Cureton, Pardoel

no Ruas fans?

The king of the streets had huge hands.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

The king of the streets had huge hands.

yes he did and in the era of no gloves those huge hands came in pretty damn handy didnt they

Ruas in some ways is like Dave Benetaeu/Pat Smith. Marco Ruas proved strikers could win in the UFC before Mo Smith, but never gets credit, much like those fighters dominated early round opponents with GnP, especially Benetaeu at UFC five.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Ruas in some ways is like Dave Benetaeu/Pat Smith. Marco Ruas proved strikers could win in the UFC before Mo Smith, but never gets credit, much like those fighters dominated early round opponents with GnP, especially Benetaeu at UFC five.

Very true, remember Benetaeu's elbows from behind hahaha?????

While he was a good striker Mo gets all the credit cause he was the first striker to beat a elite wrestler in UFC