Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy
UFC 331 · September 19, 2026 · Crypto.com Arena · Main Card 9:00 PM ET
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Wrestling and craft vs. knockout power
- Finish likelihood
- Medium
- The line
- No line posted yet
- The stakes
- Lightweight · Main Card
The read
Tsarukyan's well-roundedness and wrestling should be the deciding factor against a live puncher with real one-shot power.
Ruffy has to be respected everywhere the fight stands, but if Tsarukyan can find takedowns the way he has against most of the division, this becomes a five-round grind in his favor.
Expect Tsarukyan to control the pace for a decision win, with Ruffy's power the clearest route to an upset if the fight stays standing early.
The matchup
This booking came together in a hurry after Tsarukyan's expected rematch with Charles Oliveira collapsed, and it pits a five-fight win streak against an in-form knockout artist.
Tsarukyan's wrestling and improving boxing give him a path to control range and drag this into deep water, while Ruffy's simple, heavy-handed pressure has ended his last two UFC wins early.
Ruffy's only loss came when Saint Denis survived his power and got the fight to the mat, which is roughly the blueprint Tsarukyan is built to follow.
Tale of the tape
| 23-3 | Record | 14-2 |
| 29 | Age | 30 |
| 5'7" | Height | 5'11" |
| 72.5" | Reach | 75" |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
| Armenia | Country | Brazil |
| American Top Team | Team | Fighting Nerds |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Arman Tsarukyan 23-3
“Ahalkalakets”
Arman Tsarukyan is a 29-year-old Armenian lightweight fighting out of American Top Team and the UFC's No. 2-ranked contender at 155 pounds. He enters on a five-fight winning streak, most recently submitting Dan Hooker via arm-triangle choke in November 2025. He was originally rebooked for a rematch with Charles Oliveira, but that fight reportedly fell through in early August 2026, and Tsarukyan instead agreed on short notice to face Mauricio Ruffy, with a title shot against the lightweight champion reportedly on the line if he wins.
- WDan Hooker · Submission (arm-triangle choke)UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker · November 22, 2025
- WCharles Oliveira · Decision (split)UFC 300 · April 13, 2024
- WBeneil Dariush · KO/TKOUFC on ESPN · December 2, 2023
Mauricio Ruffy 14-2
“One Shot”
Mauricio "One Shot" Ruffy is a 30-year-old Brazilian lightweight who built an 8-1 run on the Brazilian regional scene, every win by knockout, before signing with the UFC. He has gone 5-1 inside the Octagon, highlighted by consecutive knockouts of Bobby Green and Rafael Fiziev, with his only promotional loss a second-round submission to Benoit Saint Denis in September 2025. He steps in against Arman Tsarukyan on short notice after Tsarukyan's expected rematch with Charles Oliveira fell through, taking the biggest opportunity of his career.
- WMichael Chandler · KO/TKOUFC Freedom 250 · June 14, 2026
- WRafael Fiziev · KO/TKOUFC 325 · January 31, 2026
- LBenoit Saint Denis · Submission (rear-naked choke)UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho · September 6, 2025