Mauricio Ruffy issues first statement since knockout loss to Arman Tsarukyan: ‘It was my fault, my carelessness’

Mauricio Ruffy has broken his silence following a first-round knockout loss to Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event of UFC 331, taking full responsibility for the devastating finish.

Ruffy, a Brazilian lightweight who came to the UFC via the Contender Series, entered the bout as a lightweight title eliminator after winning his previous two fights. He accepted the fight on short notice—just over six weeks' preparation—and arrived at the octagon confident in his conditioning and game plan. Early in the opening round, Ruffy landed a flash knockdown and believed he had damaged Tsarukyan, even closing his opponent's eye with an elbow to the ribs during a reversal attempt. Convinced he would finish the fight in round two, Ruffy felt in control.

With seconds remaining in the first round, Tsarukyan shot for a takedown. Ruffy, expecting the round to end, chose to stay engaged rather than retreat to safety—a decision that proved catastrophic. Tsarukyan capitalized on Ruffy's lapse in defensive focus and dropped him with strikes, finishing the fight with only seconds left on the clock.

In a statement released Wednesday on social media, Ruffy expressed gratitude for his supporters' messages while candidly assessing his performance. "The mistake was totally mine. It was my fault, my carelessness, and his merit," Ruffy said, noting that he relaxed his defense at a critical moment—an uncharacteristic lapse. He praised Tsarukyan as an excellent fighter and acknowledged the loss as a learning opportunity, despite the sting of defeat. The knockout marks Ruffy's second UFC loss, following a September defeat to Benoit Saint Denis.