Former UFC Champion Spots Major Problem for Mauricio Ruffy Ahead of Arman Tsarukyan Clash

He has his unorthodox striking, highlight-reel finishes, and, more recently, experience of working alongside the UFC Featherweight Champion, Alexander Volkanovski,but Belal Muhammad sees something else waiting for Mauricio Ruffy when he squares off against No. 2 lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331 this Saturday.

Belal Muhammad Backs Arman Tsarukyan to Exploit Mauricio Ruffy’s Weakness

The former UFC welterweight champion believes Ruffy may have walked into one of the worst stylistic matchups available to him. Tsarukyan's wrestling could force the Brazilian away from the striking exchanges where he is most dangerous, and Muhammad thinks that could make all the difference at UFC 331.

In fact, the 38-year-old isn't quite dismissing Ruffy's ability on the feet, quite the opposite. He sees the Brazilian as one of the more dangerous strikers in the lightweight division. The problem, in his eyes, however, is what happens when Tsarukyan decides to take the fight to the ground.

For someone who has built much of his reputation around his striking, with 13 of his 14 professional victories coming by knockout or TKO, Ruffy (30) has already been exposed to his wrestling vulnerabilities. In his bout with the “God of War,” Benoit Saint-Denis, the Frenchman, managed to neutralize Ruffy by taking him down to the mat through extended grappling exchanges.

For Muhammad, that fight provides a blueprint of how Tsarukyan can effectively use this against the Brazilian striker.

“I’m excited for that one, man. I think Arman (Tsarukyan), who has been dominating outside the UFC, with social media, with wrestling at RAF, even jiujitsu, I mean stylistically, I think it’s just a bad matchup for (Mauricio) Ruffy,” the 38-year-old told MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck. 

Belal Muhammad on Ruffy

He added, “Ruffy is a great, beautiful striker, but as we’ve seen when he went up against (Benoit) St. Denis, St. Denis got him down and dominated him on the ground.”

That assessment also lines up with what the Armenian has been saying himself. Leading up to the fight, Tsarukyan has made it clear that he doesn't want to leave the decision in the judges' hands. In fact, he wants a finish against Ruffy, believing an emphatic victory could finally put him back in position for a long-sought-after UFC title opportunity.

That said, “Remember The Name” isn’t exactly saying that Ruffy is incapable of making adjustments. In fact, the Brazilian has spoken about stepping outside his comfort zone during his training camp and working with Volkanovski to broaden his game. 

However, Muhammad rests his faith on Tsarukyan. When asked about his pick, he said, “I think Arman’s a better wrestler than St. Denis. He’s going to come out there and just do what he does. I think take him down and probably go for a sub and catch him or something. I mean, Ruffy is training with Volkanovski now and all this other stuff but I just think its a bad stylistic matchup for him.”

Belal Muhammad Weighs In on the GOAT Debate

While Muhammad had plenty to say about the lightweight clash, he was just as decisive when the conversation turned toward the greatest fighter in MMA history.

Recently, the GOAT debate has once again kicked up some dust, particularly as Islam Makhachev continues to build an impressive resume while Jon Jones' legacy remains one of the biggest talking points in the sport. 

Fighters, fans, and pundits have all weighed in. So when Heck asked the Palestinian-American the same, Muhammad didn’t overcomplicate his answer. Exuding enthusiasm, he said, “Dude, I’m never going to weigh against Jon Jones. Jon Jones, you’re the GOAT, my brother.”

Ever since the "Bones" exploded onto the MMA scene, his case has long rested on his success across multiple eras and weight classes, while the Dagestani's impressive run continues to grow. Even Tsarukyan has previously argued that Jones still has an edge when comparing their respective accomplishments.

For now, Muhammad has made his position clear. Whatever happens in the ongoing GOAT conversation, he isn't ready to move Jones from the top of his list. And that's the bottom line!