Usman Nurmagomedov Warns Fighters Not to Underestimate Arman Tsarukyan’s Striking

Arman Tsarukyan is probably the most talked-about fighter in recent times. He is doing everything from collaborating with streamers to beating one opponent after another back-to-back. Despite being very busy outside of fighting, he has maintained his top position in the lightweight division for a long time. And now that he has beaten Mauricio Ruffy in the first round at UFC 331, Usman Nurmagomedov has shared his thoughts, saying Ruffy made one mistake that cost him a huge loss.

Usman Nurmagomedov Calls Arman Tsarukyan One of the Best in the World

Talking to Red Corner, Usman said most people thought Tsarukyan would take Ruffy down and control him on the ground. However, he said Ruffy should not have been counted on the feet. Usman also said the Armenian is one of the best fighters in the world and that underestimating his striking would be a big mistake.

“Everybody expected him to take Ruffy down, hold him there and control, and win the fight in that manner. But you should never rule out that your opponent can finish you on the feet. Arman is one of the best fighters in the world and writing off in terms of his striking ability would be huge mistake for any fighter,” Usman said.

For those who don’t know, Tsarukyan has lost only once, against Mateusz Gamrot, in his last six fights. While some feel Tsarukyan is a one-dimensional fighter and is mainly a wrestler, in his whole career, 10 of his 24 wins have come via knockout, which suggests he is much more than just a wrestler and is rather a complete fighter. Now that he has beaten Mauricio Ruffy, he might have left no option for Dana White and the UFC to give him another chance to fight for the UFC title.

Arman Tsarukyan May Have Earned a Title Shot

Tsarukyan has wanted a title shot for a long time. He has worked hard and beaten big names like Charles Oliveira and Dan Hooker. Before UFC 331, Dana White said he wanted to see how Tsarukyan did against Ruffy before making a decision. Now, after his win, it looks like Tsarukyan could finally get his title shot in early 2027.

Tsarukyan said, “The bosses were happy with my performance. They told me 'we gonna talk to you next week'. After this I'm gonna get title fight, they said 'yes'. Next fight is gonna be for the title. I wanna fight for the title with champion Justin Gaethje. I hope this fight is gonna happen beginning of next year.”

The Armenian has left the UFC with no other option now. He has to get a title shot, or the fans would be really upset.