TLDR
- Jose Delano defeated Robert Ruchala by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27) at UFC Vegas 115 in Las Vegas
- Delano earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series after defeating Manuel Exposito 149-38 in significant strikes
- Ruchala was deducted a point in the third round for grabbing the fence with both hands during a takedown attempt
- The fight was Delano’s first in the UFC and Ruchala’s second, with the Polish fighter now 0-2 in the promotion
- Delano extended his winning streak to five fights and is ranked No. 4 featherweight in Central and South America
Sources: cagesidepress.com | evrimagaci.org
Brazilian featherweight Jose Delano won his first UFC fight at UFC Vegas 115 on April 4, 2026, defeating former KSW interim featherweight champion Robert Ruchala by unanimous decision. The judges scored the bout 30-26, 29-27, and 29-27 in favor of Delano at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
Delano entered the octagon with a 16-3 record and earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series last August. He defeated Manuel Exposito in that appearance, outlanding him 149-38 in significant strikes to secure a unanimous decision.
Ruchala came into the fight with an 11-2 record but was looking for his first UFC victory after losing his promotional debut to William Gomis in Paris last year. The 27-year-old Polish fighter was the only active Polish featherweight on the UFC roster.
What I wanted to happen happened.”
Jose Delano (@zedelano) kicks off his UFC career with an impressive unanimous decision win over Robert Ruchala at #UFCVegas115.
Results, highlights & more ➡️ https://t.co/oo34EjDnIi pic.twitter.com/0AJuvz0ktS
— UFC News (@UFCNews) April 5, 2026
Delano’s Movement and Striking Control First Two Rounds
The opening round saw Delano establish control with his defensive movement and sharp striking. He landed a clean one-two combination that snapped Ruchala’s head back early in the fight.
Ruchala attempted to close the distance and pursue takedowns, but Delano defended well and landed knees in the clinch. The Polish fighter threw head kicks and maintained volume, but Delano’s composure gave him the edge in round one.
In the second round, Delano continued to find success with his combinations. He landed a stiff right hand that pushed Ruchala backward and began connecting consistently with his left hand.
Ruchala found some success with spinning attacks, including a clean body kick. However, Delano’s more effective striking through cleaner combinations put him ahead heading into the final round.
Fence Grab Costs Ruchala Crucial Point
Both fighters came out aggressive in the third round, with Delano landing a body-head combination while Ruchala continued targeting the head with kicks. Ruchala also connected with hooks to the body and another spinning strike to the midsection.
The turning point came with just over two minutes remaining in the fight. Ruchala attempted to take Delano down in the clinch, but Delano secured double underhooks and threatened a reversal.
In a desperate attempt to stay upright, Ruchala grabbed the fence with both hands. Referee Keith Peterson immediately stopped the action and deducted a point from Ruchala for the blatant foul.
After the restart, both fighters continued to battle along the fence before separating with about one minute left. Delano invested heavily to the body and finished with a clean one-two combination as time expired.
The point deduction proved decisive on the scorecards. One judge scored the fight 30-26 for Delano, while two others had it 29-27.
Delano was listed as a heavy favorite before the fight, with odds ranging from -325 to -375. Ruchala was a +260 underdog despite his championship experience in KSW.
Delano, ranked as the No. 4 featherweight in Central and South America before his UFC debut, has now won five fights in a row. He has finished nine of his sixteen career victories by knockout, technical knockout, or submission.
Ruchala falls to 0-2 in the UFC and will need to regroup after back-to-back losses in the promotion. The former KSW interim champion had won two KSW titles before joining the UFC roster.
Delano stands 5-foot-8 with a 70.5-inch reach, while Ruchala has a size advantage at 5-foot-10 with a 72-inch reach. The fight opened the main card at UFC Vegas 115.
