Alexander Volkanovski is breaking up preparations for his impending UFC featherweight defence by travelling Stateside to corner Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331.
The decision comes as Ruffy – who throws down against Arman Tsarukyan on Sunday’s Los Angeles card – has also predicted Australia’ greatest UFC fighter to himself defend gold by knockout in the Middle East next month.
The Brazilian then added a warning after being part of Volkanovski’s latest fight camp in Wollongong, revealing: “Volk is different for this fight”.
UFC 331: Van v Pantoja 2 | SUN 20 SEPTEMBER 11AM AEST | The UFC returns to Los Angeles for a blockbuster title showdown, as Joshua Van defends his crown against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch for the ages. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Volk gives Ruffy new Aussie nickname! | 11:16
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Ruffy confirmed both Volkanovski and Brad Riddell will be in his corner for what is being billed as an eliminator for new UFC lightweight king Justin Gaethje.
Earlier this year, Volkanovski was also part of the Ruffy’s corner when he kayoed Michael Chandler on the White House lawn, and is now going around again — making the 24,000km round trip from NSW to Los Angeles despite getting ready himself to defend against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 25.
As part of preparations for Sunday’s bout, Ruffy spent time training with both Volkanovski and his head coach Joe Lopez at their Windang gym recently.
It is the second time the UFC lightweight contender, who shares the same management team, has done so.
“And Volk, he’s different for this fight,” said Ruffy, who was also part of preparations for the Australian’s last defence against Diego Lopes.
“This is my second time in a Volk camp, and it was crazy the intensity he’s trained at for this fight – and every single day.
“So while I think a fight over five rounds with Evloev would be good for him, he also has the power to knock him out … and that’s what I’m hoping will happen.”
Ruffy also confirmed Volk will be in his corner this Sunday.
“Yes, Volk has his fight soon, but he’ll still be with me to do my corner,” the Brazilian said. “I’ll also have Brad Riddell, who is my head coach now.
“And with Volk, it’s a privilege to have him in my corner.
“Even though I don’t speak a lot of English, he brings me a lot of energy and because I understand the things he has been teaching me, I understand when he is trying to help me [during fights].”
And as for having effectively been adopted by Aussie fight fans thanks to his Team Volk allegiance?
“Absolutely I feel like Australia has adopted me,” Ruffy said. “And I’m only going to come back more and more times.”
Asked what he knew about Australia before initially arriving Down Under at the start of this year, and Ruffy laughed: “Ah, the only I knew was that Australia has the biggest UFC champion ever.
“And that’s why I wanted to come there, to train with the best.”
Volkanovski, meanwhile, heaped praise on the new team-mate who controversially quit the Fighting Nerds stable to join his camp, where they have been working overtime on Ruffy’s takedown defense.
Asked about Ruffy on the UFC 331 Countdown show, Volk said: “He’s just an athlete. He just picks up things straight away”.
On their training regime, he continued that it was all about creating muscle memory, saying: “It’s just getting repetition. When he’s not even thinking, when he’s tired, these things are automatically happening. We want to get that to a point where it feels like he’s reacting with muscle memory.”
Later, the UFC featherweight king continued on their other key focus point: “There are so many athletes here that have my sort of style, takedown defense.
“That’s how we all are here – never giving up on any little position.
“A lot of wrestlers will come in and they’re not used to scrambling ability from the guys here and they just get tired like that.
“It’s going to be very important with guys like Arman, probably one of the best wrestlers in the UFC, but if you’re going for shots and you know that’s your only chance to grab a hold of him and that’s not happening, and all of a sudden you’ve got Ruffy in your face, that’s a big, big, big problem to have.”
While Tsarukyan is a sizable favorite over Ruffy, the Brazilian insists having Volkanovski in his corner brings incredible “energy”.
Importantly, Ruffy says he will also be coming back to Australia – and regularly – as part of his push to become UFC lightweight champion.
“Training with Volk, you never stop,” he continued. “You can never be lazy. You always having to keep moving, moving, moving.
“This was my first lesson with them. And it’s the best lesson I’ve learned from these guys.”
Indeed, asked about his craziest Australian story and Ruffy replied: “The intensity of our training sessions.
“Volk’s team have a different type of protocol where you do five rounds of five minutes, with different people all the time. And this intensity is the craziest experience that I’ve had in Australia. But it was really cool and I’m now super happy training like that.
“Australia is such a special place, too. And I want to come back there after this fight, and when I’m not in camp. I want to travel, I want to see kangaroos and just hang out for a holiday.”
Speaking on Youtube recently, Tsarukyan left no doubt as to the stakes of this fight.
“If I lose this fight, I’m never going to see a title fight,” he said.
“That’s why I’m super motivated for this fight, super hungry.
“I’ve been working so hard for that moment. I never underestimate [Ruffy], especially his striking. I’ve got to be so smart during the fight because he has a good punch, so he’s knocked out a lot of people.
UFC 331: Van v Pantoja 2 | SUN 20 SEPTEMBER 11AM AEST | The UFC returns to Los Angeles for a blockbuster title showdown, as Joshua Van defends his crown against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch for the ages. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Volk set for huge UFC title defence | 01:14
“Now it’s my time. I have a good game plan. It’s going to work very well. I’m not saying it’s going to be an easy fight. It’s going to be a hard fight but I [will] get the victory.”
Elsewhere, former UFC fighter Eddie Alvarez also weighed in on the bout, suggesting a Tsarukyan win would be a better option for new UFC lightweight champ Justin Gaethje.
“I actually like Justin’s chances a lot against Arman,” Alvarez told MMA Junkie. “I think that style against Arman, that’s an easier style.
“I think that’s an easier style for Justin than against Ruffy. I think if Arman and Ruffy fight, I think Arman probably wins. But the style matchup that’s worse for Gaethje is against Ruffy. Even though it’s MMA math and Ruffy loses against Arman, I think Justin has an easier time with Arman.”