Overview
- The UFC booked Mauricio Ruffy to face Arman Tsarukyan in the co‑main event of UFC 331 at Crypto.com Arena on Sept. 19, replacing Charles Oliveira.
- Ruffy left his longtime Brazilian gym to train with Alexander Volkanovski’s team in Australia and has scored recent TKO wins over Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler.
- Joe Lopez, Ruffy’s coach, says Ruffy’s defensive wrestling and scramble work have improved so much that even Alexander Volkanovski struggles to keep him down in training.
- Both fighters and multiple outlets report that the UFC has verbally indicated the winner will move toward a lightweight title shot, though the promotion has not issued a formal contract announcement.
- Oddsmakers list Tsarukyan as the clear favorite and analysts frame the matchup as a classic striker versus grappler test where Ruffy must keep the fight standing to win.