Mauricio Ruffy's improved wrestling to face Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331

Mauricio Ruffy’s coach, Joe Lopez, claims the fighter has significantly improved his defensive wrestling and scrambling abilities ahead of his UFC 331 co-main event matchup against Arman Tsarukyan.

Training at City Kickboxing, Lopez noted that Ruffy has moved away from a jiu-jitsu-centric approach of attaching to opponents on the ground. Instead, Ruffy is now focusing on hand placement and body positioning to create separation and avoid being held down. This technical shift is intended to neutralize Tsarukyan’s chain-wrestling style.

The bout is scheduled for September 19 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. A victory for Tsarukyan could lead to a title shot against Justin Gaethje, while the fight serves as a major test for Ruffy’s defensive grappling evolution.