UFC Guarantees Tsarukyan Title Shot After Ruffy Bout at UFC 331

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has confirmed that top-ranked lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan will face Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on 19 September. The bout replaces a previously planned five-round rematch with Charles Oliveira, a change that UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell has stated guarantees Tsarukyan a lightweight title shot against current champion Justin Gaethje if he secures a victory.

Tsarukyan, who has not competed in mixed martial arts since submitting Dan Hooker in November 2025, revealed during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show that the UFC approached him with the new opponent while he was in training camp in the mountains. The organisation sought to replace the Oliveira matchup with Ruffy, a decision Tsarukyan accepted to avoid delaying his return to the Octagon.

The Australian fighter emphasised the importance of remaining active after a significant layoff, noting that the Los Angeles card carries substantial weight. He stated that pulling out to wait for Oliveira was not a viable option, citing the magnitude of the event and his need to maintain momentum. Tsarukyan confirmed that the Ruffy bout will result in a career-high payday, a financial incentive that further solidified his acceptance of the revised schedule.

Tsarukyan expressed scepticism regarding Oliveira’s stated reason for declining the rematch, which cited the recent death of a friend. The contender pointed out that Oliveira has since returned to live training sessions and has been linked to a potential bout with two-time featherweight title challenger Diego Lopes. Tsarukyan suggested that Oliveira may have been seeking an alternative matchup, noting that he would likely have preferred fighting Lopes over him.

The original Tsarukyan versus Oliveira contest took place at UFC 300 in April 2024, where Tsarukyan secured a split decision victory over the former lightweight champion. Since that defeat, Oliveira has compiled a 3-1 record and captured the UFC’s ceremonial BMF title. Tsarukyan remains focused on the undisputed lightweight crown held by Gaethje, viewing the Ruffy fight as the necessary step to secure the guaranteed title opportunity confirmed by Campbell.

Outside of the Octagon, Tsarukyan has remained active in combat sports, competing in wrestling matches with Real American Freestyle to a 7-1 record and achieving a 3-0-1 record in submission grappling since his last MMA fight. The UFC 331 card in Los Angeles will mark his official return to mixed martial arts competition.