Retired Barboza likens Ruffy to Anderson Silva ahead of UFC 331 clash with Tsarukyan

Edson Barboza has backed Mauricio Ruffy to cause problems for Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331, comparing the rising Brazilian to MMA legend Anderson Silva and describing him as an “improved version” of himself.

Ruffy faces Tsarukyan in the co-main event on 19 September in Los Angeles, and Barboza — who recently retired from the UFC — offered a detailed breakdown of the matchup, drawing on his own experience training alongside Tsarukyan at American Top Team.

“Ruffy is one of my favorite fighters right now,” Barboza said. “He’s extremely creative and skilled, and he reminds me of Anderson Silva. He just needs one opportunity to finish a fight. I’d say he’s the improved version of me.”

Barboza was equally complimentary about Tsarukyan, though he drew a distinction between the Armenian lightweight and the man Barboza himself faced in 2017 — Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“I’ve had the opportunity to train many times with Arman at ATT,” Barboza said. “He’s impressive. If he needs to, he’ll come at you 10,000 times until he takes you down. Khabib had more pressure. He controls you more and is always one move ahead, but he doesn’t really look for the submission. Arman is different. He’s always looking to advance and find the finish.”

The comparison to Nurmagomedov is a significant one given Barboza’s first-hand experience. He lost to the undefeated Dagestani in a dominant grappling performance at UFC Fight Night in November 2017, making his read on Tsarukyan’s similar but distinct style particularly credible.

Despite his admiration for Tsarukyan, Barboza ultimately sided with Ruffy’s finishing instincts as the decisive factor.

“Ruffy only needs one opportunity to finish the fight,” he said. “All I can say is that it’s going to be a fight you can’t miss — a classic striker vs. grappler matchup.”

The bout shapes up as one of the most compelling lightweight contests of the year, pitting Ruffy’s creative striking against Tsarukyan’s relentless wrestling and submission hunting.