UFC 331 Main Card is live tonight at 9:00 PM ET
(Main card picks listed at the bottom of the article)
The sun is shining bright in the morning sky, the birds are singing in every ear, and each breath of the Saturday air is fresh as could be.
It is fight day.
The leader in combat sports returns to Crypto.com Arena (formerly the Staples Center) in Los Angeles for the first time in eight years. At the top of the imminent UFC 331 card, a flyweight title rematch will bask in the spotlight. Current champion Joshua Van and former belt-holder Aledandre Pantoja will hit the restart button on an earlier championship dance cut short due to injury.
Last December at UFC 323, Van bounced Pantoja from his longtime throne after the former flyweight king suffered a dislocated elbow in the opening round. A healthy Pantoja is now back with vengeful intentions sprouting from the unsettling loss.
However, the headlining sequel is not the matchup evoking Club Underground employees to run around the corporate office throwing papers in the air. Rather, the co-main clash is overflowing with palpable intrigue.
In tonight’s penultimate fight, bubbling stars Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy will face off in a duel which promises to produce the next lightweight title challenger. Over the past couple of years, the respective stocks of the two fighters have soared.
The hyper-talented Tsarukyan has won over new hearts through the expression of a previously hidden personality. Conversely, Ruffy has dazzled the UFC fanbase with flashy fighting displays.
By pairing the fan favorites to share the octagon, matchmakers leave very little possibility for a disappointing product.
Arman Tsarukyan
Akin to many generational fighters, Arman Tsarukyan is a psychological enigma. The third ranked lightweight was born to a wealthy Armenian household. Unabashed to flaunting his familial riches, Tsarukyan drives to training sessions in luxurious sport vehicles and kits himself in designer knits.
The man puts the Arman in Armani.
It appears his abundant financial security would offer Tsarukyan the liberty to choose any life path, or perhaps even no determined path at all. Yet, by the peculiar calculations made within his rare psyche, the Armenian athlete decided to pursue the most gruesome, arduous sport known to man.
Although a classic rags-to-riches story packs greater inspirational value, the unnecessarily bold ambition of Tsarukyan is, in a sort of inverse way, very commendable.
In 2019, the Armenian mixed martial artist was welcomed through the doors of the UFC by a most formidable gatekeeper. His debut in the organization came against Islam Makhachev, a man who has since asserted himself as a regular name in the “GOAT conversation.” Though Makhachev would dish Tsarukyan his first UFC loss, the Armenian established himself as a true threat with ample potential.
Following his introduction into the promotion, Tsarukyan secured nine wins in ten bouts. The accumulation of victories would earn him a lightweight title opportunity versus the very man who granted him his first UFC fight.
In January 2025, Tsarukyan and Makhachev were set to collide again in the highly anticipated headliner of UFC 311. Leading up to the title showdown, fans and pundits viewed the Armenian talent as perhaps the only lightweight capable of dethroning the dominant Makhachev.
Tragically, one day prior to the championship bout, Tsarukyan pulled out after sustaining a back injury which would temporarily derail his career.
Not only would Arman undergo a lengthy physical recovery, but he would also be forced to rebuild public perception. His withdrawal from UFC 311 left the fanbase feeling quite bitter, and, more consequently, turned his relations with the UFC brass sour.
Trust issues from the side of the promotion booted Tsarukyan from foreseeable title contention. The Armenian sensation would soon struggle in arranging any match at all. However, the clever Tsarukyan pivoted, attempting a new angle to reposition himself back in the good graces of the UFC community.
The formerly reserved professional tapped into the rapidly growing medium of IRL (in real life) streaming. In collaborating with popular personalities such as Neon (who the fighter claims will be part of his corner in his upcoming fight) and Nina Drama, Tsarukyan began generating ripples within the larger combat sports space.
Fortunately for the skillful athlete and newly chartered internet star, the marketing ploys proved fruitful. Tsarukyan was gifted a return fight against fellow lightweight Dan Hooker after being sidelined for nearly a year.
The Armenian star defeated Hooker with ease, submitting his combatant in the second round. His recent victory, as well as continual streaming content, catapulted Tsarukyan into the forthcoming battle with Mauricio Ruffy.
With a victory on Saturday, the Armenian assailant will find himself back at the front of the line for a lightweight title chance.
Mauricio Ruffy
Dissimilar to Tsarukyan, the acclaim of Mauricio Ruffy is rooted primarily in the product within the cage. The Brazilian striking sensation originally emerged on the scene as one leg of the highly innovative and very popular Fighting Nerds camp. Though each of the team’s members have forged considerable success within the UFC, Ruffy has always stood out as a rare talent.
The distinguishing factor with this particular Brazilian warrior boils down to artistry. Mauricio Ruffy has arguably the most poetic fighting style in the current combat sports landscape. His unparalleled striking approach is composed of uncommon blends of karate, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and traditional boxing.
Perhaps the only accurate comparison that could be drawn to an early predecessor is that to a youthful Conor McGregor. Likely the most identifiable adoption of the Irish legend’s technique is Ruffy’s wide karate stance. Moreover, aesthetically pleasing tactics in the game of the Brazilian lightweight, such as spinning wheel kicks and jumping switch kicks, certainly exude notes of a featherweight McGregor.
Yet, perhaps the element which ultimately drives the allure of Ruffy, and assuredly contributed to the phenomenon of McGregor, is an artistic emphasis on the fighting craft. Throughout his career, McGregor spoke of “painting a picture” in the octagon. Ruffy seemingly embodies this mindset.
Within the confines of the cage, the Brazilian calmly pressures his opponents, then uses his prey as a canvas to display his creative strikes. His resourceful kicks and punches are his brushes, and the blood spilled from his foes is his paint.
An unorthodox, imaginative style is undoubtedly intriguing in itself. However, highlight reel finishes spur massive appeal in the world of mixed martial arts. Conveniently enough, Ruffy has racked up no shortage of viral knockouts.
Out of seven UFC adversaries (including his competition on Dana White’s Contender Series), the artist from Brazil has slept five opponents in spectacular fashion. Most recently, Ruffy dismantled Michael Chandler on the global stage of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.
The promotion continues to back the crowd-pleasing Muricio Ruffy as his shooting star continues on a championship trajectory. Another flashy win over Tsarukyan at UFC 331, and Ruffy will enter talks of soon competing for lightweight gold.
Breathing Fresh Oxygen
The encounter of Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy certainly possesses electrifying worth as a faceoff of two superb athletes. Furthermore, the contrast of Tsarukyan’s rugged grappling and Ruffy’s poetic striking further boosts curiosity and intrigue surrounding the bout.
Yet, the sweet particles which have the air smelling fresh as Febreze relate to the match’s breaking of a disheartening norm. In recent memory, many of the most engaging UFC competitors have become increasingly selective in choosing when and who to fight.
Each weight class seems to be plagued by political campaigns strategically deployed by contenders to position themselves for a championship opportunity. As a result, high-level non-title fights are running scarce.
Additionally, UFC matchmakers occasionally contribute to the issue themselves. They have developed a tendency to avoid pinning two promising competitors against each other. By foregoing these amusing matchups, the promotion protects the stock of both individual stars.
Thus, the meeting of Tsarukyan and Ruffy, two exhilarating entities in the prime of their careers, is a gift from the MMA gods.
The air in Crypto.com Arena will be tasting of honey when the lightweight co-main event commences. All indications are that the mixing of Tsarukyan and Ruffy will deliver a delicious concoction.
Complete List of UFC 331 Main Card Picks:
Flyweight Title Fight: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja – Underground Pick: Winner – Joshua Van
Lightweight Fight: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy – Underground Pick: Winner – Arman Tsarukyan
Featherweigh Fight: Patricio Pitbull vs. Dooho Choi – Underground Pick: Winner – Dooho Choi
Heavyweight Fight: Gable Steveson vs. Sean Sharaf – Underground Pick: Winner – Gable Steveson
Light Heavyweight Fight: Alonzo Menifield vs. Iwo Baraniewski – Underground Pick: Winner – Iwo Baraniewksi
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