UFC 331: Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy Preview & Prediction

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The UFC 331 co-main event is a five round lightweight title eliminator, as the number two ranked Arman Tsarukyan returns against the division’s most dangerous striker in Mauricio Ruffy.

Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy facts

What time are Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy expected to walk out? 20 September 2026 at 3:45 am

Where is UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2? Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 331

What TV channel is UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2 main card

Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja (Flyweight)

Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy (Lightweight)

Patricio Pitbull vs Choi Doo-ho (Featherweight)

Gable Steveson vs Sean Sharaf (Heavyweight)

Alonzo Menifield vs Iwo Baraniewski (Light Heavyweight)

UFC 331: Van vs Pantoja 2 prelims

Marlon Vera vs Charles Jourdain (Bantamweight)

Tai Tuivasa vs Robelis Despaigne (Heavyweight)

Michael Aswell Jr. vs Yoo Joo-sang (Featherweight)

Ryan Gandra vs Osman Diaz (Middleweight)

Edmen Shahbazyan vs Brunno Ferreira (Middleweight)

Casey O'Neill vs Eduarda Moura (Women's Flyweight)

Giga Chikadze vs Joanderson Brito (Featherweight)

Arman Tsarukyan: The complete modern fighter finally back in the cage

Arman Tsarukyan (23-3) is about as complete as fighters come at 155 lbs. The Armenian brings championship-level freestyle wrestling, immense top pressure and suffocating ground and pound, averaging over three takedowns every 15 minutes. His striking has improved enormously since he joined the promotion, with a strong kicking game, sharp counters and elite defence that sees him absorb just 1.8 significant strikes per minute. On top of that he has top-level cardio and durability. He last fought in November, out-damaging Dan Hooker before taking him down and submitting him in the second.

Mauricio Ruffy: The most explosive sniper in the division

Mauricio Ruffy (14-2) has won 13 of his 14 fights by knockout, nine of them inside the opening round. The Brazilian is a dynamic, fluid striker who whips his shots with heavy torque, fighting from a wide karate stance while bouncing on his toes with one hand extended to control and bait, a look reminiscent of prime Conor McGregor. His kicking is flashy and acrobatic and in the pocket he can slip and rip with his defensive boxing. Ruffy’s only UFC defeat came when Benoit Saint Denis took him down and drowned him, but he has since left the Fighting Nerds, knocked out Fiziev and Chandler, and now trains alongside the featherweight goat – Alexander Volkanovski.

Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy prediction

On paper Tsarukyan should handle this comfortably. He is the better version of the only man who has solved Ruffy, with the same ability to pressure wrestle but with more cardio and considerably more finishing craft on top. The Saint Denis fight is the blueprint, and Arman has all the tools needed to execute a sharper version of it. His resume backs it further. Taking down Charles Oliveira and controlling him for stretches at UFC 300 is a grappling credential nobody outside of the GOAT Islam Makhachev can relate to. 

But it only takes one punch, and that is precisely what Ruffy is hunting. He carries three inches of reach and will look to time counters off Arman’s jab and the entries on his level changes. If Tsarukyan gets drawn into a firefight rather than fighting to his own strengths, he is in genuine trouble against a man who took the head off Michael Chandler and Bobby Green.

Coming off a long spell out with plenty to prove, expect Tsarukyan to chain takedowns, drain Ruffy’s legs and find the finish, whether by accumulation on the mat or by slipping into that head and arm choke again. Either way I don’t see this fight going to the judges.

Prediction: Arman Tsarukyan to win inside the distance