Mauricio Ruffy vs. Arman Tsarukyan: High Stakes at Lightweight Saturday

Mauricio Ruffy knows exactly what is at stake when he steps into the Octagon against Arman Tsarukyan. The Brazilian lightweight revealed that the UFC told him a victory at UFC 331 would put him in line for a shot at the lightweight championship.

Speaking to Fox Sports Australia through an interpreter, Ruffy confirmed that the title opportunity was discussed with the promotion.

“That’s the agreement with the UFC,” Ruffy said. “That’s the last step to make. Let’s make it happen.”

Mauricio Ruffy, Arman Tsarukyan in Five-Round Co-Main Event

Ruffy and Tsarukyan will meet in a five-round co-main event at UFC 331 on Saurday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The card is headlined by the flyweight championship rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja.

Tsarukyan is ranked No. 2 in the Meta rankings, while Ruffy is currently No. 10. The matchup gives Ruffy a chance to leap several places in the title picture with a win over one of the division's most established contenders. The UFC itself has described the bout as carrying lightweight title implications.

Mauricio Ruffy's Rapid Rise

Ruffy enters the biggest fight of his UFC career with a 14-2 professional record and a 5-1 mark inside the Octagon. He has won his last two fights by stoppage, defeating Rafael Fiziev by second-round TKO at UFC 325 before knocking out former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler in the first round at UFC Freedom 250.

The Chandler victory was particularly significant. Ruffy stopped the veteran at 4:29 of the opening round on June 14 at the White House, extending his UFC winning run to five victories in six appearances. Those performances have quickly established Ruffy as one of the lightweight division's rising contenders.

His only UFC defeat came against Benoît Saint Denis in September 2025, when he was submitted by rear-naked choke in the second round. Since then, Ruffy has responded with consecutive stoppage victories.

Arman Tsarukyan's Experience

Tsarukyan brings considerably more experience against elite opposition. The Armenian owns a 23-3 professional record and is 10-2 in the UFC.

He is also riding a five-fight winning streak, with his most recent victory coming against Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar in November of last year. Tsarukyan submitted Hooker with an arm-triangle choke in the second round. That run also includes a decision victory over former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 and a knockout of Beneil Dariush.

Tsarukyan's wrestling and grappling could provide Ruffy with his toughest test yet, particularly given the Brazilian's submission loss to Saint Denis last year. Ruffy is aware of the challenge. In a recent interview with UFC on Paramount+, he described Tsarukyan as probably the toughest opponent he has faced while emphasizing that he has spent considerable time preparing for the Armenian's wrestling.

“I know he is a very tough fighter. He's actually probably the most challenging fighter that's going to be presented to me,” Ruffy said. “I've trained a lot for this.”

A Shot at UFC Gold for Mauricio Ruffy? 

Ruffy had already said earlier in August that beating Tsarukyan would take him “straight to the title.” His latest comments provide more detail, with the Brazilian saying the UFC has specifically discussed a championship opportunity with him if he wins. That distinction matters.

The UFC has publicly described Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy as a fight with lightweight title implications, while Ruffy's comments indicate that he has personally been told a victory would lead to a title shot. For Ruffy, the stakes are therefore clear.

He's facing the No. 2 contender in the division, and a victory would give him a chance to move directly into the championship picture. If he can get past Tsarukyan on September 19, UFC 331 could become the defining night of Ruffy's young career and potentially his final step before fighting for UFC gold.