MMA’s brightest stars will collide in Hollywood this weekend at UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 inside LA’s Crypto.com Arena. In the co-main event, top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan will face rising fan favorite Mauricio Ruffy.
Tsarukyan (23–3, 10–2 UFC) returns to the Octagon for the first time since November 2025, when he notched a second-round submission win over Dan Hooker. Ruffy (14–2, 5–1 UFC) is coming off back-to-back stoppage victories, punctuated by his first-round finish of Michael Chandler at the White House in June.
Tsarukyan enters as a heavy -325 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Ruffy is a +260 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 3.5 rounds.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy Fight Preview
Arman Tsarukyan (#2)
- 23–10 (10–2 UFC)
- 9–1 (T)KO
- 6–0 SUB
It seems that the only thing thwarting Arman Tsarukyan from securing a title shot is Arman Tsarukyan. Injuries, withdrawals, and a laundry list of “side quests” away from the Octagon have stalled his progression toward the top of the lightweight mountain. “Batman,” 29, has fought only once since Mauricio Ruffy’s promotional debut in May 2024. There, he beat up on a talented but past-his-prime Dan Hooker.
Even so, Tsarukyan has held onto his top-two ranking for a reason: he’s capital-D Dangerous. He’s one of the most imposing wrestlers on the active roster, known for suffocating his opponents with relentless pressure. And while his inactivity is a concern, Tsarukyan’s foray into alternate promotion Real American Freestyle (RAF) has kept his grappling sharp. On Saturday night, he’ll be eager to reiterate that he’s next in line for a shot at the 155-pound crown.
Mauricio Ruffy (#7)
- 14–2 (3–3 UFC)
- 13–1 (T)KO
- 0–1 SUB
Mauricio Ruffy heads into Saturday night eyeing not only his third victory in 2026, but by far the most meaningful win of his career. The Fighting Nerds prospect has rocketed up the lightweight rankings on the back of his elite striking — a flashy style that has often drawn comparisons to a young Conor McGregor. With fluid kickboxing and lethal counterattacks, Ruffy has posted a 93 percent knockout rate, including recent stoppage wins over Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler.
However, the Brazilian’s grappling will be a serious question mark against Tsarukyan, especially given his submission loss to Benoit Saint Denis in September 2025. Still, Ruffy owns an impressive 86 percent takedown defense inside the Octagon, and he stuffed all three of Chandler’s entries at the White House. He has also made strides to shore up his ground game by enlisting featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who will be in Ruffy’s corner for UFC 331. If Ruffy can keep this fight standing, things will get very, very interesting.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy Pick, Best Bet
Benoit Saint Denis seemingly laid out the blueprint to defeating Mauricio Ruffy last year, a game plan that Arman Tsarukyan appears uniquely suited to follow. But Ruffy has continued to learn and grow through his activity; the same can not be said for his opponent.
Since defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300, Tsarukyan has made just one trip to the Octagon compared to Ruffy’s six. Alexander Volkanovski’s corner presence should help the Brazilian unlock another level of his ground game. Coupled with a considerable size advantage — four inches in height, three in reach — Ruffy should be able to keep the fight in his wheelhouse.
At such long odds, there’s serious value in backing Ruffy to stun Tsarukyan and the rest of the MMA world at UFC 331.
