Arman Tsarukyan in do-or-die situation at UFC 331: ‘If I lose this fight, I’m never going to see a title fight’

Arman Tsarukyan faces a critical crossroads at UFC 331 on September 19, where a loss to Mauricio Ruffy in the co-main event could effectively end his title-shot hopes at lightweight. The No. 1-ranked contender at 155 pounds was originally scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the belt in January 2025, but a last-minute back injury forced his withdrawal from that contest. Nearly two years later, Tsarukyan remains atop the lightweight rankings yet has never received another title opportunity—a sequence he acknowledges as consequences for the injury setback.

Now Tsarukyan views UFC 331 as a do-or-die moment. In candid remarks on his YouTube channel, he stated plainly: "If I lose this fight, I'm never going to see a title fight." The Armenian-American grappler emphasized his hunger and preparation, calling the bout against Ruffy effectively a title eliminator despite its co-main-event billing. "Every fight for me is important. I give all of myself in training camp," he said.

On paper, Tsarukyan enters as a heavy favorite. His elite wrestling and suffocating grappling give him a clear tactical edge over Ruffy, a striker-first fighter known for aggressive striking exchanges. Yet Tsarukyan is wary of overconfidence. He acknowledged Ruffy's knockout power and striking ability, pledging a disciplined approach to avoid being drawn into a standup battle where he could be caught. "I never underestimate him, especially his striking," Tsarukyan said. "I've got to be so smart during the fight because he has a good punch, so he's knocked out a lot of people."

Tsarukyan expects a competitive fight but forecasts victory. The bout is part of a stacked UFC 331 card headlined by flyweight champion Joshua Van defending his belt against Alexandre Pantoja in a five-round main event.