Ruan Potts

Potts made his professional debut in 2011, competing exclusively for regional promotions in his native South Africa, where he was also the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) Heavyweight Champion. He compiled a record of 8 – 1, finishing his opponents in all of his victories before signing with the UFC in February 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/2/10/5397782/ufc-signs-efc-africa-heavyweight-champion-ruan-potts-mma-news|title=UFC signs EFC Africa heavyweight champion Ruan Potts|publisher=bloodyelbow.com|author=Zane Simon|date=10 February 2014|accessdate=10 February 2014}}

Potts made his promotional debut against Soa Palelei on 10 May 2014 at UFC Fight Night 40.{{cite web|url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/soa-palelei-to-face-ruan-potts-at-ufc-cincinnati-20140220-332jy.html|title=Soa Palelei to face Ruan Potts at UFC Cincinnati |publisher=watoday.com.au|author=Liam Ducey|date=20 February 2014|accessdate=20 February 2014}} Palelei won the fight via knockout in the first round.{{cite news|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2014/05/ufc-fight-night-40-results-photos-soa-palelei-crushes-ruan-potts-in-first|title=UFC Fight Night 40 results, photos: Soa Palelei crushes Ruan Potts in first|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=John Morgan|accessdate=10 May 2014|date=10 May 2014}}

Potts faced Anthony Hamilton on 30 August 2014 at UFC 177.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmamania.com/2014/7/13/5895481/ufc-177-ruan-potts-vs-anthony-hamilton-aug-30-sacramento-mma|title=UFC 177: Ruan Potts vs. Anthony Hamilton set for Aug. 30 in Sacramento|publisher=mmamania.com|date=13 July 2014|accessdate=13 July 2014|author=Jesse Holland}} Hamilton won the bout via TKO in the second round.{{cite web |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Ruan-Potts-Confused-by-Referee-Stoppage-in-Loss-to-Anthony-Hamilton-at-UFC-177-73061|title=Ruan Potts confused by referee stoppage in loss to Anthony Hamilton at UFC 177|publisher=sherdog.com|date=30 August 2014|accessdate=30 August 2014|author=Tristen Critchfield}}

Potts faced Derrick Lewis on 28 February 2015 at UFC 184.{{cite web|url=http://themmareport.com/2014/12/derrick-lewis-vs-ruan-potts-added-to-ufc-184/|title=Derrick Lewis vs. Ruan Potts added to UFC 184 |publisher=themmareport.com |author=Jason Floyd|date=16 December 2014}} He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2015/2/28/8127691/ufc-184-results-derrick-lewis-ground-and-pounds-way-to-win-over-ruan|title=UFC 184 results: Derrick Lewis ground-and-pounds way to win over Ruan Potts|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Dave Doyle|date=28 February 2015|accessdate=28 February 2015}} Potts was subsequently released from the UFC.{{cite web|url=http://cagepages.com/2015/04/10/heavyweights-ruan-potts-and-josh-copeland-plus-six-others-released-by-ufc/|title=Heavyweights Ruan Potts and Josh Copeland, plus six others released by UFC|publisher=cagepages.com|author=Jacob Cooper|date=10 April 2015|accessdate=10 April 2015}}

Potts re-signed with Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) after his release from the UFC and faced Cyril Asker. He lost via TKO (retirement) after the first round. He has fought a further five times in the EFC since then.

• Extreme Fighting Championship
• EFC Heavyweight Championship (Two times)
• Two successful title defences

{{MMArecordbox

|ko-wins=5

|ko-losses=5

|sub-wins=6

|sub-losses=0

|dec-wins=0

|dec-losses=2

}}

{{MMA record start}}

|-

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|11–7

|Jared Vanderaa

|TKO (punches)

|EFC 76

|{{dts|format=dmy|2018|December|8}}

|align=center|3

|align=center|3:24

|Pretoria, South Africa

|{{small|For the vacant EFC Heavyweight Championship.}}

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|11–6

|Karl Etherington

|TKO (punches)

|EFC 58

|{{dts|format=dmy|2017|April|8}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|2:33

|Cape Town, South Africa

|

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|10–6

|Brendon Groenewald

|Submission (rear naked choke)

|EFC 55

|{{dts|format=dmy|2016|November|11}}

|align=center|2

|align=center|4:21

|Cape Town, South Africa

|

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|9–6

|Vandam Mbuyi

|Submission (armbar)

|EFC 50

|{{dts|format=dmy|2016|June|17}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|4:06

|Sun City, South Africa

|{{small|Return to Heavyweight.}}

|-

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|8–6

|Tumelo Maphutha

|Decision (unanimous)

|EFC 45

|{{dts|format=dmy|2015|November|7}}

|align=center|3

|align=center|5:00

|Cape Town, South Africa

|{{small|Light Heavyweight debut.}}

|-

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|8–5

|Cyril Asker

|TKO (retirement)

|EFC 40

|{{dts|format=dmy|2015|June|06}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|5:00

|Johannesburg, South Africa

|

|-

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|8–4

|Derrick Lewis

|TKO (punches)

|UFC 184

|{{dts|format=dmy|2015|February|28}}

|align=center|2

|align=center|3:18

|Los Angeles, California, United States

|

|-

|{{No2}}Loss

|align=center|8–3

| Anthony Hamilton

|TKO (body punches)

|UFC 177

|{{dts|format=dmy|2014|August|30}}

|align=center|2

|align=center|4:17

|Sacramento, California, United States

|

|-

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|8–2

|Soa Palelei

|KO (punches)

|UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva

|{{dts|format=dmy|2014|May|10}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|2:20

|Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

|

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|8–1

|Andrew Van Zyl

|Technical Submission (armbar)

|EFC Africa 26

|{{dts|format=dmy|2013|December|12}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|0:44

|Gauteng, South Africa

|{{small|Won the EFC Heavyweight Championship.}}

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|7–1

|Ricky Misholas

|Submission (triangle choke)

|EFC Africa 24

|{{dts|format=dmy|2013|October|10}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|N/A

|Gauteng, South Africa

|

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|6–1

|Mahmoud Hassan

|Submission (ankle lock)

|EFC Africa 21

|{{dts|format=dmy|2013|July|25}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|0:37

|Gauteng, South Africa

|

|-

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|5–1

|Andrew Van Zyl

|Decision (unanimous)

|EFC Africa 18

|{{dts|format=dmy|2013|March|01}}

|align=center|5

|align=center|5:00

|Gauteng, South Africa

|{{small|Lost the EFC Heavyweight Championship.}}

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|5–0

|Bernardo Mikixi

|TKO (punches)

|EFC Africa 16

|{{dts|format=dmy|2012|October|19}}

|align=center|2

|align=center|N/A

|Gauteng, South Africa

|{{small|Defended the EFC Heavyweight Championship.}}

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|4–0

|Andrew Van Zyl

|Submission (guillotine choke)

|EFC Africa 11

|{{dts|format=dmy|2011|November|10}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|3:50

|Gauteng, South Africa

|{{small|Defended the EFC Heavyweight Championship.}}

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|3–0

|Norman Wessels

|TKO (punches)

|EFC Africa 9

|{{dts|format=dmy|2011|July|30}}

|align=center|3

|align=center|4:21

|Gauteng, South Africa

|{{small|Won the inaugural EFC Heavyweight Championship.}}

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|2–0

|Baygon Obutobe

|TKO (punches and elbows)

|EFC Africa 8

|{{dts|format=dmy|2011|April|14}}

|align=center|4

|align=center|3:00

|Gauteng, South Africa

|

|-

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|1–0

|Calven Robinson

|TKO (knee and punches)

|EFC Africa 7

|{{dts|format=dmy|2011|February|03}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|1:23

|Gauteng, South Africa

|

{{end}}

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists

{{reflist}}

• {{UFC|ruan-potts}}
• {{Sherdog}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Potts, Ruan}}

Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:South African male judoka

Category:South African male mixed martial artists

Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing judo

Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Category:South African practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Category:Martial artists from Cape Town

Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters