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Ruffy is preparing for the biggest test of his Ultimate Fighting Championship career when he faces Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event of UFC 331 on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles. Tsarukyan’s wrestling prowess is a key factor in the matchup, but Lopez believes his fighter has made significant strides in that area.
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Mauricio Ruffy’s defensive wrestling improves ahead of Arman Tsarukyan fight at UFC 331
Ruffy made the move from the Brazilian gym Fighting Nerds after losing to Benoit St. Denis in September 2025, joining Volkanovski’s team in Australia. Speaking to Submission Radio, Volkanovski’s head coach Lopez said Ruffy’s development has been particularly noticeable in defensive wrestling and his ability to escape dangerous positions.
“Well, it’s just chalk and cheese,” Lopez said. “You can just see how he’s improving, you know?”
Ruffy has since earned victories against Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler, finishing both lightweights. Lopez claims that even Volkanovski struggles to keep Ruffy down in the gym. He added that the Brazilian has improved his positioning while defending takedowns and prioritizes keeping the fight on the feet rather than chasing submissions.
“For this fight here, that’s one of our specialties is our defensive wrestling and our scrambles and not accepting the position,” Lopez added. “Honestly, he’s picking it up. When he first came, he was still really stuck in his jiu-jitsu type thing where he attached himself to the person. Now, he’s not. He’s training his escapes, getting out, putting his body in the right position, putting his hands in the right position.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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