Mauricio Ruffy has made his intentions clear ahead of the biggest fight of his career. The Brazilian contender says he is targeting nothing less than a knockout victory over Arman Tsarukyan when the pair collide in the UFC 331 co-main event.
Speaking ahead of the lightweight title eliminator, Ruffy dismissed any added pressure surrounding the matchup and insisted that an emphatic finish is the only outcome he is pursuing. He said:
“Winning this fight takes us straight to the title. I don’t feel pressure at all. I’m going there for the knockout. I don’t want to leave the Octagon without that result.”
Check out Mauricio Ruffy’s comments below:
The winner is expected to move into immediate title contention, with undisputed lightweight champion Justin Gaethje awaiting his next challenger after capturing the belt with a victory over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250.
Mauricio Ruffy eyes title shot after career resurgence
Mauricio Ruffy enters UFC 331 riding the momentum of two statement victories. After suffering the first defeat of his UFC career against Benoit Saint-Denis, the Fighting Nerds standout responded impressively by defeating Rafael Fiziev before adding another marquee win over former title challenger Michael Chandler.
Known for his explosive striking, precision boxing, and knockout power, Ruffy has quickly re-established himself as one of the lightweight division’s fastest-rising contenders. A victory over Tsarukyan would represent the biggest win of his career and likely earn him a shot at Gaethje’s championship.
Standing in his way is one of the division’s most complete fighters.
‘Ahalkalakets‘ returns after submitting Dan Hooker in his most recent outing, further strengthening his position among the lightweight elite. The Armenian has long been regarded as one of the UFC’s toughest title contenders, combining elite wrestling with constant improvements in his striking.
The matchup was not originally expected to happen. Multiple reports indicated that Tsarukyan was set to rematch former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 331. However, Oliveira reportedly withdrew following the passing of his close friend and longtime teammate Allan Nascimento, prompting the UFC to book Ruffy as his replacement.
The change in opponent creates a very different stylistic challenge for Tsarukyan. Instead of facing Oliveira’s submission-heavy attack, he now meets one of the division’s most dangerous knockout artists.
With a title shot on the line, Mauricio Ruffy has no interest in simply edging out a decision. The Brazilian believes a knockout over Tsarukyan would remove any doubt about his championship credentials and position him as the next man to challenge Justin Gaethje for the UFC lightweight title.
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