Mauricio Ruffy faces a tough test at UFC 331 against Arman Tsarukyan – but his new coach Joe Lopez believes he can make some magic happen.

It’s clear for all to see that Mauricio Ruffy has the potential to become a world champion in the UFC. He is one of the most dynamic strikers out there, and every time he steps into the cage, he puts on a real show, and even that may be an understatement. Alas, Arman Tsarukyan is a different beast than just about anyone he has faced in the lightweight division.

Tsarukyan should arguably already have competed for the world title at 155 pounds, but that isn’t going to matter to Mauricio Ruffy, especially now that he has a legendary coach like Joe Lopez by his side and helping to guide him.

In a recent interview, Joe Lopez had the following to say about Mauricio Ruffy’s upcoming challenge.

Joe Lopez looks ahead to Mauricio Ruffy vs Arman Tsarukyan

“Well, it’s just chalk and cheese,” Lopez told Submission Radio. “You can just see how he’s improving, you know? For this fight here, that’s one of our specialties is 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.

“He’s training his escapes, getting out, putting his body in the right position, putting his hands in the right position. Having Frank (Hickman), Alex (Volkanovski), and Brad Riddell there constantly trying to take him down and him getting back up, I can just see how hard it is for those boys now to hold him down.”

“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.” Quotes via MMA Junkie

Ian Shutts

A combat sports journalist specialising in MMA, Boxing and Muay Thai with a special interest in Asian combat sports.