Lerryan Douglas enters the UFC cage for a second time Saturday night in Sacramento, facing off with Jamall Emmers after flooring Julian Erosa in brutal fashion in his debut this past March, and feels better prepared and more motivated after working in the gym with vale tudo legend Marco Ruas.
Ruas is a longtime friend of Douglas’ manager and his family and “an inspiration” for the featherweight talent, who was born five months before Ruas won the UFC 7 one-night tournament. Ruas beat Paul Varelans, Remco Pardoel and Larry Cureton that night in September of 1995, and 31 years later they’re sharing the same mat in California.
“I’m always training, trying to get as much experience as possible from the veterans, from the real fighters,” Douglas told MMA Fighting. “It’s been an incredible experience. I did several training sessions with him for this fight. He said, ‘Brother, you’re ready. You’re ready. Let’s beat the hell out of this guy.’ [laughs]”
Ruas, 65, last fought under MMA rules in 2007 when he returned from a six-year hiatus for a rematch with Maurice Smith in IFL. “The King of the Streets” was one of the biggest names in the vale tudo scene back in the 1980’s and 1990’s, competing in World Vale Tudo, UFC and PRIDE.
“Just being able to train with the guy, talk to him, have him show me some techniques and different ways to do things, all of that is already extremely valuable to me,” Douglas said. “Just being around him, training with him, gives you that extra motivation. The legend, Marco, is telling me I’m ready, brother, there’s no way I can’t be. And if you’re not ready, the guy is going to tell you. There’s none of that with Marco. That’s why I like the old school guys, there’s no, ‘I’m going to protect this kid’s ego.’ With Marco, that’s how it has to be. If you’re not in good shape, if you’re not doing well, he’s going to tell you. He’s not going to sugarcoat it or protect your ego. For me, that’s good for my confidence. If he says I’m good, I’m ready, then I’m ready.”
Douglas’ octagon return is met with anticipation after a successful debut in March, and the 145-pound prospect says the hype from his fellow Brazilians “is motivation for me” ahead of his UFC Sacramento clash with Emmers. His opponent enters his 10th octagon appearances riding a two-fight winning streak over Gabriel Miranda and Hyder Amil in 2025.
“The guys are putting me up there, but I also know where I really stand,” Douglas said. “It’s cool to see people supporting me, backing me and putting me up there. I’ve only had one fight in the UFC, but I’ve been fighting for a long time. I had my first professional fight when I was 18, and now I’m 31. It’s been a long journey. Having people put me up there with those guys is cool for me, I enjoy that. I’m ready to embrace any opportunity that comes my way.”
“My entire career has been like this,” he continued. “I’ve never had the option of taking an easier route. There’s a good side to that and there’s a bad side to it, but the path I followed was a little different, always fighting people at my level or above. That’s how you gain experience, right? But for me, I’m cool. Whoever the UFC sends my way, I’ll be ready.”
“Gunslinger” Douglas is a former LFA champion who earned his spot in the UFC by finishing Cam Teague in just 36 seconds on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025, and welcomes facing ”more experienced guys” in the UFC.
“I keep gaining more experience as well until I reach the top, which is my goal,” Douglas said. “Jamall is a well-rounded guy. He can fight anywhere. I watched his last fight, him wrestling with the guy. In some fights he knocks guys out, in others he submits them, so he’s a complete fighter. In the UFC, you’re going to face guys like that. There won’t be anyone incomplete in the UFC. But when they feel the pressure in a fight, guys change their game plans and everything changes, right? When I’m actually there, when it’s fight time, we’ll see. If he wants to bang, let’s bang. If he wants to wrestle, I’m ready. And jiu-jitsu goes without saying. But I’m excited to get another submission or knockout.”
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