Mauricio Ruffy calls Arman Tsarukyan ‘toughest challenger’ ahead of UFC 331

Mauricio Ruffy is not backing down from the biggest test of his UFC career. The Brazilian lightweight will face elite wrestler Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 331 co-main event on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles in a five-round bout.

Tsarukyan's prowess on the mat is well-documented—he is widely considered one of the lightweight division's top wrestlers. Keeping the fight standing will be central to Ruffy's gameplan, and he has prepared accordingly. Following UFC Freedom 250, Ruffy spent time training in Thailand to sharpen his skills before the matchup was officially announced.

Ruffy has emphasized that he prefers to let his performance speak louder than words. "Talking, anyone can talk, but I like to walk, the actions do the talking," he told UFC on Paramount. "I always want to get better, we know that the wrestling is going to be something that's strong but I'd rather show [my improvements]."

The Brazilian also expressed genuine respect for the challenge ahead. "I know he's a very tough fighter, actually probably the toughest challenger [in the lightweight division]," Ruffy said. "It's a challenge, I've trained a lot for this, I'd rather not talk and just show people." Ruffy's extensive preparation and measured confidence suggest he views this as an opportunity to prove himself against elite competition.