Arman Tsarukyan is not impressed by the high-level names Mauricio Ruffy brought into his UFC 331 training camp. Ruffy has prepared alongside UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, but Tsarukyan believes those preparations will not change the matchup once they enter the Octagon.
The two lightweights meet in a five-round co-main event at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on September 19. With both fighters looking toward the top of the division, the matchup could have major consequences for the lightweight title picture.
Tsarukyan Dismisses Ruffy’s Star-Studded Camp
Ruffy has gone all-in during his preparation for Tsarukyan. The Brazilian spent time training with Volkanovski and Adesanya, along with other experienced fighters at Freestyle Fighting Gym.
That preparation was designed to help Ruffy deal with the biggest challenge of his UFC career. Tsarukyan is widely regarded as one of the division’s strongest wrestlers, while Ruffy has built his reputation around dangerous and explosive striking.
However, Tsarukyan does not believe training with elite fighters automatically gives Ruffy an advantage. Speaking during UFC 331 media day, the Armenian dismissed comparisons between himself and the champions who helped Ruffy prepare.
“You cannot compare Adesanya with me, and you cannot compare Volkanovski with me,” Tsarukyan said. He acknowledged Ruffy’s power and striking but insisted that his ability to combine wrestling and striking gives him advantages across the matchup.
Arman Tsarukyan Believes He Is Better Everywhere
Tsarukyan’s confidence comes from the style he has developed throughout his UFC career.The No. 2-ranked lightweight currently owns a 23-3-0 professional record and enters UFC 331 riding a five-fight winning streak. His latest victory came against Dan Hooker in November 2025, when he submitted the New Zealander in the second round.
Tsarukyan believes his biggest advantage is his ability to connect different parts of his game rather than relying exclusively on wrestling. He expects to mix takedowns, grappling and striking instead of allowing Ruffy to dictate the pace from distance.
That approach could be particularly important against Ruffy, who has established himself as one of the UFC’s most dangerous knockout artists. Ruffy has won 13 of his 14 professional victories by knockout, according to his UFC profile.
The matchup therefore presents a clear contrast between Tsarukyan’s all-around approach and Ruffy’s explosive striking game.Fans following the division can also check Sportsgotec’s UFC lightweight rankings for more context on the contenders surrounding the championship picture.
Mauricio Ruffy Has Prepared Specifically for Tsarukyan
Ruffy understands that this fight requires a different preparation than his previous UFC appearances.The Brazilian has recently scored consecutive stoppage victories over Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler. His knockout of Chandler at UFC Freedom 250 was particularly significant and pushed him into the conversation surrounding the lightweight elite.
His training camp focused heavily on defending against wrestling and grappling. Ruffy explained that preparing for a five-round fight against someone like Tsarukyan required him to repeatedly work through situations that he does not normally emphasize to the same degree.
Training with Volkanovski and Adesanya gave Ruffy access to fighters who could help him develop different answers for the matchup. Ruffy has also spoken positively about the experience and said the camp was the most intense preparation of his career.Tsarukyan, however, remains convinced that Ruffy’s preparation will not be enough to neutralize his overall skill set.
Ruffy’s Striking Remains the Biggest Threat
While Tsarukyan is confident, he has not ignored the danger Ruffy presents.The Brazilian has recorded 13 knockout victories during his professional career, including nine first-round finishes. His power gives him a genuine opportunity to change the fight with one clean shot, particularly during the opening stages.
Tsarukyan has acknowledged that Ruffy possesses unusual and dangerous striking. He expects the early portion of the fight to be particularly important before his wrestling and pressure can begin to influence the contest.That creates an intriguing tactical battle. Ruffy needs enough space to unleash his striking, while Tsarukyan will likely look to reduce that space and force the fight into areas where he can use his grappling.
UFC 331 Could Decide Tsarukyan’s Title Path
Tsarukyan has been waiting for another opportunity at the lightweight championship since withdrawing from his scheduled title fight in January 2025 because of an injury.Despite continuing to win, he has remained outside the title picture longer than expected. He has previously acknowledged that even a victory over Ruffy would not automatically guarantee a championship opportunity, although he now believes a win should put him next in line.
That makes UFC 331 particularly important for Tsarukyan.His previous UFC run already includes victories over Charles Oliveira and Dan Hooker, and another win over an emerging contender like Ruffy would strengthen his case further.Readers can also revisit Sportsgotec’s coverage of Arman Tsarukyan’s original opponent for UFC 331 for more background on his complicated path toward another major lightweight opportunity.
Ruffy Has a Chance to Change the Lightweight Picture
Ruffy enters the fight with his own opportunity to move rapidly toward the championship.A victory over the No. 2-ranked Tsarukyan would be the biggest win of his UFC career. It would also give the promotion a new contender with an explosive style and significant finishing ability.The Brazilian has already shown that he can compete against experienced opposition. His knockout of Chandler demonstrated the kind of power that can make him dangerous against even the division’s best fighters.The question is whether he can keep the fight standing long enough to use that advantage.
Final Thoughts
Arman Tsarukyan Mauricio Ruffy has all the ingredients of a major lightweight matchup, with both fighters entering the bout carrying significant momentum.Ruffy has prepared with some of the sport’s biggest names, but Tsarukyan remains convinced that preparation will not overcome his combination of wrestling, grappling and striking. Ruffy, meanwhile, has spent his camp preparing specifically for the challenges presented by Tsarukyan’s style.When they meet at UFC 331, the answer will come inside the Octagon rather than the gym. The five-round matchup should reveal whether Tsarukyan’s all-around game can neutralize Ruffy’s explosive striking and whether the Brazilian can produce another major knockout on the biggest stage of his career.
