Photo via Yahoo Sports

Alexander Volkanovski Reveals Only Regret With Mauricio Ruffy

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has opened up about his concerns regarding teammate Mauricio Ruffy’s recent loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331. Volkanovski, who trains alongside Ruffy in Australia, admitted he wished his fellow fighter had more preparation time before facing one of the top lightweight contenders in the sport.

Despite Ruffy’s strong defensive takedown work early in the bout, he was knocked out by a brutal elbow late in the first round, ending his momentum. Volkanovski expressed on the *Precision Podcast* that while Ruffy adapted quickly, additional training camps could have better equipped him for Tsarukyan’s elite skill set.

Ruffy’s setback has left him sidelined for the remainder of 2026, with a potential return to the Octagon in 2027. Analysts suggest the UFC should reconsider matching Ruffy against top-tier grapplers like Tsarukyan or Benoît Saint-Denis, instead pairing him with fighters who rely more on striking.

A possible future matchup could see Ruffy face Esteban Ribovics, who recently defeated King Green via knockout at UFC 332, given their similar knockout-oriented styles.

Up nextMMA· 1h ago

UFC legend says Sean O'Malley would 'light up' Payton Talbott