Arman Tsarukyan will now face Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331
Arman Tsarukyan will no longer be facing Charles Oliveira in a rematch, and will now take on a different Brazilian in Mauricio Ruffy come Sep. 19.
Arman Tsarukyan was originally scheduled to fight Charles Oliveira at UFC 331, in what was a rematch of their encounter from UFC 300. However, 'do Bronx' has since withdrawn from the bout, and Tsarukyan will now face lightweight striking buzzsaw Mauricio Ruffy in a title eliminator.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy is next
UFC 331 was set to host a rematch between Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira, with initial reports indicating that it would have been for the BMF title in a five-rounder. However, the title was removed from the matchup, and now Oliveira has removed himself from the bout, with the recent and tragic passing of his Chute Box teammate Allan Nascimento being cited as the reason. The fighter chosen to step in on his behalf will be Mauricio Ruffy, as per the UFC's announcement on X.
TIME TO MAKE A STATEMENT đź‘€@ArmanUFC will face @RuffyMMA in the #CryptoCom #UFC331 co-main event!
[ Tickets on sale TODAY | LIVE SEP 19 at @CryptoComArena ] pic.twitter.com/Btv93H0Mfl
Both men are gunning for a lightweight title fight with Justin Gaethje, who recently dethroned Ilia Topuria as the division's kingpin with a fourth-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250. Ruffy fought on the same card, TKO'ing former lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler in round one. The win extended his run of form to a two-fight win streak, which includes a second-round TKO of Rafael Fiziev at UFC 325. Tsarukyan, however, is on a lengthier win streak, having won his last five fights, including a first-round knockout of Beneil Dariush at UFC on ESPN 52, a split-decision win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300, and a second-round submission win over Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 265.
Tsarukyan was previously set to face then lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for the belt at UFC 311, but pulled out of the fight a day prior, blaming a back injury. His withdrawal infuriated the UFC's top brass and, outside of a fight with Hooker, Tsarukyan spent most of his time wrestling in RAF matches, but now that he's back in the UFC's good graces, he seems determined to continue his climb to the top of the lightweight division.
