One Camp, Two Wrestling Tests: Alexander Volkanovski and Mauricio Ruffy Make Perfect Training Partners

With the announcement of Mauricio Ruffy vs Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331, there’s plenty to get excited about. The Brazilian is one of the most effective strikers in the lightweight division at the moment and is, without a doubt, an extremely dangerous match-up for anyone.

With that being said, there’s a clear hole in his game, the wrestling realm. He was taken down by Benoit Saint Denis and dominated on the floor to a second round submission loss just one year ago.

Since that loss, he’s left The Fighting Nerds team and teamed up with the featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski and has never looked better.

As Ruffy prepares for a tough wrestling test in Arman Tsarukyan, Volkanovski has his own test on the horizon as we assume he will face Movsar Evloev next.

Volkanovski and Ruffy Prepare for Wrestlers Next

Ruffy Has a lot to Learn

In his lone UFC loss, Mauricio Ruffy was dominated on the ground. He was taken down three times, controlled for 4:38 and ultimately out grappled.

With that being said, he did defend seven takedowns on that occasion. His wrestling has certainly improved following his 2025 loss. He’s defended all four takedown attempts against him since that defeat.

His takedown defence prior to the loss against BSD was impressive too, having not hit the canvas despite attempts. 

With an 86% takedown defence, Ruffy knows what he’s doing, however, Tsarukyan is a different animal when it comes to the wrestling game.

He’s taken down 10 of 12 opponents and the two that he hasn’t, he’s knocked out in the first round. In his 12 UFC fights, he’s recorded 32 takedowns at a success percentage of 37%. He averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and when he gets his opponents down there, he’s effective and dangerous.

If Ruffy is to have any success, he has to accept that he’ll get taken down but it’s what he does when he’s down there which is important. He must do enough to make sure that he doesn’t take too much damage and can get the fight back to where he is most dangerous, on the feet.

Volkanovski, Craig Jones and Keeping the Fight Standing

Although it is yet to be confirmed, there’s an understanding that Alexander Volkanovski’s next title defence will be against undefeated Russian, Movsar Evloev. 

At 20-0, Evloev is a threat wherever the fight goes, however, where he is most comfortable is wrestling. He averages 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes at an accuracy of 61%. Throughout his 10 UFC fights, he’s recorded an impressive 41 takedowns. Last time out he went 25 minutes against Lerone Murphy, scored nine takedowns but also was able to strike with Murphy, one of the better strikers at 145lbs.

The champion’s takedown defence sits at a reasonable 68% and it’s hard to remember a time in which he was taken down and truly dominated. 

Against the biggest wrestling threat of his career, Islam Makhachev, Volkanovski did well. He defended 56% of the takedown attempts of Makhachev and it was even more impressive when you remember that that fight took place at 155lbs.

Volkanovski is effective at defending takedowns when his back is against the cage, utilises his height well to dig underhooks and more often than not forces a clinch situation before forcing a break.

He’s been working alongside jiu-jitsu phenom, Craig Jones in recent fights in order to be better at his ground defence and therefore has become as much a threat on the ground in defensive positions as he is in attacking positions. A double threat for the Aussie.

If Volkanovski and Ruffy can effectively work together, it could be a long night for both Tsarukyan and Evloev.