30-Day Notice UFC 331 Fight Against Arman Tsarukyan Will Get Title Shot, Says Mauricio Ruffy

Mauricio Ruffy reveals he added stakes around his UFC 331 co-main event against Armenian superstar Arman Tsarukyan.

30-Day Notice UFC 331 Fight Against Arman Tsarukyan Will Get Title Shot, Says Mauricio Ruffy

Mauricio Ruffy and Arman Tsarukyan will face off in No 1 contender clash (via MMA Mania, Yahoo Sports)

Mauricio Ruffy is stepping into the biggest test of his UFC career when he faces Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331. The Brazilian lightweight will enter unfamiliar territory against one of the division’s strongest grapplers. More importantly, victory could put Ruffy directly into contention for the UFC lightweight title.

The fight will serve as the UFC 331 co-main event and mark Ruffy’s return to the cage. Ruffy last competed at UFC Freedom 250, where he knocked out longtime veteran Michael Chandler. Before that, the Brazilian produced another exceptional knockout against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 325, building significant momentum.

Ruffy is currently ranked No. 7 in the Meta Rankings, while Tsarukyan has remained in and out of the lightweight top two for years. The Armenian has faced several hurdles throughout his UFC run and now returns after beating Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar in November 2025. Ruffy recently revealed the stakes surrounding their upcoming clash.

They said they we’re going to give me a great fight because of the way I beat fighters in my previous fights. That UFC has said it. this is a straight shot to the title. That’s why I accepted this fight on just over 30 days’ notice.

Mauricio Ruffy via MMA FIghting

Ruffy previously trained with Fighting Nerds before spending time at City Kickboxing alongside Alexander Volkanovski. The champion helped Ruffy prepare for his recent fights and worked extensively with the Brazilian during training. He also praised Ruffy’s striking ability while supporting his development ahead of major UFC bouts.

A title shot would be a major jump for Ruffy, especially after suffering his first UFC defeat in 2025. Benoit Saint-Denis snapped his seven-fight winning streak with a face-crank submission at UFC Paris in September 2025. However, Ruffy quickly turned things around with back-to-back wins and now stands near the top of the division.

Ruffy has also made his intentions clear ahead of the matchup, warning Tsarukyan about what awaits at UFC 331. The Brazilian enters the fight confident in his knockout ability and believes he can secure a decisive victory. With a potential title shot at stake, Ruffy now has an opportunity to make a major statement.

Interestingly, Ruffy was not originally expected at UFC 331, with a rematch between Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira previously being discussed. However, Oliveira revealed that the rematch was not feasible for him at that time. The passing of his teammate Allan Nascimento also left the BMF champion in a difficult state.

Arman Tsarukyan presents a dangerous challenge for Mauricio Ruffy, especially with his elite ground game and submission prowess.

His wrestling could force the Brazilian into unfamiliar territory and test his grappling defense. With a title fight at stake, the pressure surrounding this pivotal lightweight clash will be even greater.

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Arman Tsarukyan has a violent prediction for upcoming bout against Mauricio Ruffy

Arman Tsarukyan has emerged as one of the UFC lightweight division’s most accomplished contenders. The Armenian has defeated former champion Charles Oliveira, Dan Hooker, Beneil Dariush, and Joaquim Silva during his UFC tenure. Those victories have showcased Tsarukyan’s ability to overcome established opposition.

However, Tsarukyan has been snubbed from title opportunities over the past year, partly due to behavioral issues with Dana White. Those issues affected his standing with the promotion and his path toward another title opportunity. He was also passed over for the UFC 324 interim title fight, with Paddy Pimblett instead facing Justin Gaethje.

Mauricio Ruffy warns Arman Tsarukyan
Mauricio Ruffy warns Arman Tsarukyan (via MMA Fighting, X)

Despite being snubbed for opportunities, Tsarukyan remained active outside the UFC under the RAF and Hype Fighting banners. He has competed around 12 times since his last UFC outing against Hooker in November 2025. As he prepares for UFC 331, Tsarukyan has now made a violent prediction for Mauricio Ruffy.

Round 3 stoppage via TKO. Elbows,elbows – cut his face.

Arman Tsarukyan via Kick

Arman Tsarukyan’s prediction reflects his confidence ahead of his UFC return after months away from the promotion. Mauricio Ruffy’s striking presents a serious threat, but the Armenian’s wrestling gives him another path to control the fight. Their UFC 331 clash could determine which contender moves closer to the lightweight title.

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