Arman Tsarukyan doubts Charles Oliveira's reason for UFC 331 pullout: "I don't understand"
Arman Tsarukyan has just shared his thoughts on Charles Oliveira's withdrawal from their UFC 331 clash, and he doesn't feel like 'do Bronx's' reasoning adds up.
In a recent interview, Arman Tsarukyan cast doubt on Charles Oliveira's reason for withdrawing from their UFC 331 fight. As far as Tsarukyan is concerned, he feels that Oliveira's real reason for pulling out of their bout has to do with the UFC allegedly offering him a more favorable matchup.
Arman Tsarukyan suspects Charles Oliveira is fighting someone else
UFC 331 was originally scheduled to feature a rematch between Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira in what would have been a lightweight title eliminator. Unfortunately, the matchup fell apart after Oliveira withdrew from it following the tragic death of his close friend and Chute Box teammate Allan Nascimento. However, in his latest appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Tsarukyan shared his belief that Oliveira's withdrawal was due to something else entirely (2:10):
"Because Charles' friend died and he cannot train, but I don't understand in three days or four days, he's doing live streamings and back in the camp and probably they already set it up fight with Diego Lopes. He was just finding excuse and now, he just found excuse, and I don't know if... everybody's different yeah. It's to lose somebody is so hard, but you could beat me and dedicate this victory to your friend, but you never know, so. Of course, fight me or Diego Lopes, for sure he would pick Diego Lopes."
When asked by Helwani whether he was actually told Oliveira was fighting Diego Lopes or if it's merely speculation on his part, Tsarukyan clarified his stance.
"No, I just think probably they're gonna make BMF versus him and Diego Lopes."
Despite Tsarukyan's claims, there have been no announcements about Oliveira and Lopes fighting. However, Lopes did announce a move up to the lightweight division after twice failing to dethrone Alexander Volkanovski as featherweight champion, losing to him via unanimous decision at UFC 314 and UFC 325. As for Tsarukyan, the original bout with Oliveira would have been a rematch of their UFC 300 encounter, which he won via split-decision.
Arman Tsarukyan faces Mauricio Ruffy in a 5-ROUND co-main event at #UFC331 🔥
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) August 5, 2026
Who takes it and how? pic.twitter.com/FcybNSC2tA
Though, with Oliveira off the card, Tsarukyan will now face exciting lightweight striker Mauricio Ruffy, who is on a two-fight win streak and coming off a dominant first-round TKO of Michael Chandler at UFC Freedom 250.
