With that being said, there\u2019s a clear hole in his game, the wrestling realm. He was taken down by Benoit Saint Denis<\/a> and dominated on the floor to a second round submission loss just one year ago.<\/p>\n Since that loss, he\u2019s 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<\/a>, Volkanovski has his own test on the horizon as we assume he will face Movsar Evloev next.<\/p>\n Volkanovski and Ruffy Prepare for Wrestlers Next 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.<\/p>\n With that being said, he did defend seven takedowns on that occasion. His wrestling has certainly improved following his 2025 loss. He\u2019s defended all four takedown attempts against him since that defeat.<\/p>\n His takedown defence prior to the loss against BSD was impressive too, having not hit the canvas despite attempts.\u00a0<\/p>\n With an 86% takedown defence, Ruffy knows what he\u2019s doing, however, Tsarukyan is a different animal when it comes to the wrestling game.<\/p>\n He\u2019s taken down 10 of 12 opponents and the two that he hasn\u2019t, he\u2019s knocked out in the first round. In his 12 UFC fights, he\u2019s 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\u2019s effective and dangerous.<\/p>\n If\u00a0Ruffy is to have any success, he has to accept that he\u2019ll get taken down but it\u2019s what he does when he\u2019s down there which is important. He must do enough to make sure that he doesn\u2019t take too much damage and can get the fight back to where he is most dangerous, on the feet.<\/p>\n Volkanovski, Craig Jones and Keeping the Fight Standing<\/p>\n Although it is yet to be confirmed, there\u2019s an understanding that Alexander Volkanovski\u2019s next title defence will be against undefeated Russian, Movsar Evloev.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The champion\u2019s takedown defence sits at a reasonable 68% and it\u2019s hard to remember a time in which he was taken down and truly dominated.\u00a0<\/p>\n Against the biggest wrestling threat of his career, Islam Makhachev<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imago1078539961.webp\")
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\nRuffy Has a lot to Learn<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imago1078540586.webp\")
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