Tsarukyan vs Ruffy Set for UFC 331 Co-Main Title Eliminator

Lightweight contender Mauricio Ruffy will face the biggest challenge of his career when he meets Arman Tsarukyan in the five-round co-main event of UFC 331 on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The high-stakes bout, confirmed by the promotion on August -5, is widely seen as a title eliminator, with the winner expected to earn a shot at the UFC lightweight championship.

Ruffy, a 30-year-old Brazilian fighter, enters the contest on a two-fight knockout streak, having finished veterans Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler earlier this year. He holds a 6-1 record in the UFC, with his only loss coming against Benoit St. Denis. In a statement on social media, Ruffy expressed confidence and a clear intention to seek a decisive victory. "Winning this fight takes us straight to the title," Ruffy said. "I don't feel pressure at all. I feel privileged, very grateful to God for all this. I'm going there for the knockout. I don't want to leave the octagon without that result." Ruffy will soon depart for Australia to complete his full training camp under the guidance of former champion Alexander Volkanovski.

His opponent, Arman Tsarukyan, represents a significant step up in...