Mauricio Ruffy says Arman Tsarukyan win leads straight to title shot

Mauricio Ruffy is preparing for what could be a career-defining fight against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331 on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Brazilian lightweight believes a victory over Tsarukyan warrants an immediate title shot at lightweight gold.

Ruffy expressed confidence and freedom from pressure following the announcement of the matchup. "Winning this fight takes us straight to the title," Ruffy stated on Instagram Stories. "And that's it; let's go and give it our all. 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."

The 30-year-old holds a 14-2 record and has been lethal in the Octagon, finishing five of his six UFC victories. His only UFC loss came to Benoit St. Denis. Ruffy recently defeated Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler in consecutive finishes, establishing himself as a serious contender. For his training camp, Ruffy will head to Australia to work with noted coach Alexander Volkanovski, the same arrangement that served him well during previous preparations.

Tsarukyan (10-2 in the UFC) represents Ruffy's biggest test to date. The Armenian fighter is riding a five-fight winning streak and recently finished Dan Hooker. A win for Ruffy could indeed position him for a title opportunity, though such claims must first be validated inside the Octagon.