Mauricio Ruffy eyes UFC lightweight title after win over Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331

Mauricio Ruffy says a victory over Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331 will earn him a shot at the UFC lightweight championship. The bout is set as the co‑main event on 19 September 2026 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Ruffy, a 30‑year‑old Brazilian, promised a knockout finish, stating he feels “privileged” and wants to leave the octagon with a decisive win.

Tsarukyan enters the fight on a five‑fight win streak with a 10‑2 record and will look to use his elite wrestling to control the match. The winner is slated to face current lightweight champion Justin Gaethje next year. Ruffy will train in Australia under former champion Alexander Volkanovski, a camp he used for his recent victories over Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler. The pairing was arranged after a planned fight for Tsarukyan fell through following the death of a close associate of UFC BMF champion Charles Oliveira.