Tsarukyan says UFC title shot guaranteed if he defeats Ruffy at UFC 331

Arman Tsarukyan says the UFC has guaranteed him a lightweight title shot if he defeats Mauricio Ruffy in their UFC 331 co-main event, after the Armenian contender’s original opponent, Charles Oliveira, withdrew from the bout following a personal tragedy.

Tsarukyan made the disclosure during an appearance on the Deep Waters podcast, explaining that he had already agreed to a rematch with former champion Oliveira and was deep into his training camp in Armenia when the fight fell apart. The withdrawal came after the death of Oliveira’s teammate, Allan Nascimento.

“I said yes, versus Oliveira,” Tsarukyan said. “I said yes and then I started my training camp in Armenia. And then Oliveira’s friend died and then they said, we’re looking for the new one. Then Ruffy came up and I said, yeah. Because already in the camp and I need one fight, because this year I haven’t fought, so I said, it’s a good fight for me, so I took that fight.”

With the camp already underway and a year without competition behind him, Tsarukyan accepted the Ruffy matchup without hesitation — and says the UFC sweetened the deal with a concrete promise about what follows.

“After this, for sure I’m fighting for the title,” he added.

The claim that a title shot is on the line adds significant weight to what might otherwise have looked like a late-notice replacement bout. Ruffy, who stepped up to fill the vacancy, now finds himself standing between Tsarukyan and a shot at the lightweight championship.

Tsarukyan has not been shy about his frustration with how the Oliveira situation unfolded. He previously stated publicly that he believed Oliveira used his teammate’s death as an excuse to avoid the rematch — a pointed accusation that has added an edge to his build-up to UFC 331.