Arman Tsarukyan could have a big problem
Joe Lopez believes Mauricio Ruffy has made major improvements in the area that once exposed his biggest weakness.
Arman Tsarukyan has been actively chasing a title for quite some time now, and the fight against Mauricio Ruffy could actually earn him a title shot if he wins. The first staredown for the fight has already taken place, and it was very heated. Dana White had to physically pull the two apart because they were already about to go at each other right there. The fight was already very interesting, but new statements from Mauricio Ruffy’s new coach, Joe Lopez, make things even more intriguing. Mauricio Ruffy’s biggest weakness became particularly evident in his loss to Benoît Saint Denis in September 2025. He clearly lacked the necessary grappling skills in that fight, but those are supposed to be honed daily in training, at least according to Joe Lopez. Lopez, who is best known for his work with Alexander Volkanovski, says that his takedown defense looks completely different now that he’s joined the Freestyle MMA Team.
“Well, it’s just chalk and cheese. You can just see how he’s improving, you know? For this fight here, that's one of our specialties, our defensive wrestling and our scrambles and not accepting the position. 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, where now, he’s not”
Lopez said.
And that’s exactly what’s so crucial against an opponent like Arman Tsarukyan, since he applies constant pressure and is determined to win every round. Mauricio Ruffy has to consistently prevent takedowns and get back to his feet quickly if Arman Tsarukyan does manage to land one. Joe says he’s already seeing significant progress in training. His team is constantly trying to take him down during training, but even they can’t keep him on the ground. His team actually covers every skill area well. Frank Hickman brings incredible wrestling skills to the table, and Alexander Volkanovski has spent his entire career learning how to handle pressure from world-class opponents. That’s a pretty strong training camp, especially when you consider Mauricio Ruffy’s previous skills. Plus, Lopez says we can forget the idea that Arman Tsarukyan will turn this fight into a five-round wrestling festival.
“Arman’s in for a fight,” Lopez said. “It’s not going to be he’s going to hold Ruffy down for five rounds and make it ugly. I can’t see that happening. You can never say never, but just watching Ruffy and how he’s moving, and he’s so athletic as well. He’s such a strong, athletic guy, and he wants to learn and he picks things up so quick”
he said.
Of course, Arman Tsarukyan is likely still the favorite and is clearly the more proven top fighter. However, if Mauricio Ruffy tries to get back on his feet immediately after the first takedown, this could be a very exciting fight. Arman Tsarukyan always seeks control, what happens if he doesn't get it?