Arman Tsarukyan Admits Mauricio Ruffy Fight Might Be His Last Shot at UFC Gold

Arman Tsarukyan is cornered into a desperate spot at UFC 331. The Armenian believes the Mauricio Ruffy fight is his final shot at securing a title fight, and he's in no mood to let that slip. 

Arman Tsarukyan's Last-Ditch Effort at UFC Belt

The No. 1 lightweight contender has stayed on the cusp of the title picture for years. However, since a last-minute back injury sabotaged his only shot at the previous champion Islam Makhachev in 2025, Tsarukyan has been grasping at straws to regain that opportunity. With UFC 331 potentially offering him just that, the 'Batman's concerns are amplified. 

“If I lose this fight, I’m never going to see a title fight. That’s why I’m super motivated for this fight, super hungry. I’ve been working so hard for that moment," Tsarukyan revealed in his latest fight camp behind-the-scenes video on his YouTube channel. 

In fact, the Armenian seems to have left no stone unturned in his preparations for the clash on September 19, from being in optimal physical shape to a crucial mindset shift to help him go the distance on Saturday.

“I’m taking Mauricio Ruffy as an opponent for my title fight. Every fight for me is important. I give all of myself in training camp," the 29-year-old added. 

Further, although Tsarukyan is coming into the fight with confidence, he's refusing to take Ruffy lightly.

Arman Tsarukyan Goes All Out Ahead of Ruffy Clash

In the same video, the Armenian wrestler acknowledged his opponent's jaw-dropping striking, which has stopped many cold in their tracks—13 out of his 14 wins, to be precise. 

Clearly, the Brazilian is a threat Tsarukyan cannot take lightly if he's serious about getting back into contention. In fact, Ruffy's last two knockout wins have prompted Tsarukyan to rethink his strategy, and he has confirmed that he won't stay predictable with his grappling-heavy game. 

“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." 

Arman Tsarukyan preparing for battle at UFC 331 vs Mauricio Ruffy 🥊 🗡️ https://t.co/MvANp5ufAo pic.twitter.com/wKLxEhHUdE

— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) September 3, 2026

Tsarukyan's demeanor entering the fight shows just how significant this matchup is for the No. 1 LW contender. And his concerns aren't entirely unfounded either, with UFC boss Dana White staying firm in his promise of making Tsarukyan work his way up to another title shot. 

As it so happens, even after his impressive win against Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar, the top 155-lbs contender failed to secure the interim lightweight bout at UFC 324. Despite fans hurling criticisms at UFC for the alleged snub against 'Ahalkalakets' (previously), the fight ultimately went to Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, with the former emerging victorious. 

However, as of now, the UFC has issued no statements either confirming the Armenian's concerns or guaranteeing the title shot in the first place.

Still, with Arman Tsarukyan consistently delivering at the highest level in the lightweight division for years, fans have all the reasons to believe the 29-year-old will be the next to challenge current champion Justin Gaethje. Riding a 5-fight win streak since 2022, Batman is also the fan-favourite to win the upcoming clash against Mauricio Ruffy. 

The event headliner Alexandre Pantoja, who's training alongside the lightweight at America Top Team, also lauded Tsarukyan for his work ethic. "It's going to be a tough fight for RF," Pantoja remarked. 

Ultimately, with his title hopes hanging in the balance, Tsarukyan will have to prove once again that he's ready for UFC gold. Surely, the wrestling menace will stop at nothing in that pursuit.