UFC fighters, including Jon Jones, have popularized wearing Fighting Nerds glasses after matches, with Elon Musk recently spotted wearing them at a UFC event where Mauricio Ruffy won; Ruffy is now seeking high-profile opponents like Benoit Saint Denis or Bobby Green for his next fight.
Jon Jones and other UFC stars sported Fighting Nerds glasses at the UFC APEX. This was during the UFC Vegas 100 main event when Carlos Prates knocked out Neil Magny. A week later, who else but Elon Musk was seen wearing them after Mauricio Ruffy’s win over James Llontop at UFC 309.
Musk was seated cageside at Madison Square Garden. Right next to him? President-elect Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White. Ruffy’s fight had just begun, and Musk seemed delighted after the thrilling 15-minute battle.
“Seeing Musk in those glasses was amazing,” Ruffy told MMA Fighting. “It felt like they came just for my fight since they arrived as I entered. The fight was electrifying; I nearly finished Llontop twice!”
“After jumping on the cage, I saw Musk and Trump… I congratulated Trump on his election win and thanked Musk for being there. Musk clapped, smiled, said something I didn’t catch. But wow, what a moment!”
Pablo Sucupira, the mastermind behind the “nerd glasses” trend post-fights, has made it a signature for his team. Fighters like Ruffy, Prates, Caio Borralho, Jean Silva, Thiago Moises, and Bruna Brasil are all part of this quirky tradition.
“I remember Pablo pitching the idea at the gym,” Ruffy recalled with a chuckle. “Caio thought it was uncool at first. But Pablo persisted, and now everyone’s buzzing about these glasses. People even ask me for them wherever I go!”
Ruffy’s now 2-0 in the UFC after his unanimous decision win. Llontop missing weight for their catchweight bout likely helped him last the full 15 minutes. After the fight, Llontop’s team mentioned he weighed around 198 pounds during the match—32 pounds heavier than weigh-ins.
“That extra weight probably saved him from a knockout,” Ruffy mused. “It wasn’t a perfect victory because I wanted that KO. Still, I think fans enjoyed it.”
With six consecutive wins and 10 knockouts in 11 pro victories, Ruffy eyes Benoit Saint Denis or King Green as his next opponents.
“A fight with Saint Denis excites me,” Ruffy shared. “Some say to take it slow, but I’ve earned this shot through life’s trials. There’s buzz around it—Saint Denis is on a losing streak, making it intriguing. Bobby Green would also be an exciting matchup.”
“Facing either of them would be great! I’m hoping for a good name from UFC soon. For now, I’m taking a break but already planning my next fight.”