Arman Tsarukyan has no doubt that he would have emerged victorious against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 , held last Saturday (19). The Armenian delivered one of the biggest knockouts of the year by landing a devastating elbow strike in the first round. For the fighter, however, the result was not a surprise, as he believes he would have found a way to beat the Brazilian regardless of how the fight unfolded.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Tsarukyan stated that Ruffy would not have been able to defeat him that night. The Armenian assessed that, had the fight continued after the first round, he could have sought a submission in the second round or even a technical knockout in the third.
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"Ruffy wouldn't have beaten me anywhere that night. If it weren't for that elbow, the second round could have been a submission, and the third round could have been a TKO," said Arman Tsarukyan.
Tsarukyan also praised Ruffy's striking skills and pointed him out as one of the best strikers in the lightweight division currently. In the Armenian's view, however, MMA demands more than excellence in a single area, and the threat of wrestling can cause an opponent to change their stance and create an opening to be surprised in the stand-up fight.
“I think Ruffy is the best striker in our division right now… MMA is different. You can bring in the best striker, show him wrestling, and knock him out because he’ll focus on wrestling,” concluded the Armenian.
Watch Arman Tsarukyan's knockout of Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331.
ARMAN KNOCKS MAURICIO RUFFY OUT COLD!!!
📺 #UFC331 on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/v7mDUuLQGI
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) September 20, 2026
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