Tsarukyan Accepts New UFC 331 Opponent on Short Notice

Arman Tsarukyan is preparing to face Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331, a change from his originally scheduled bout against Charles Oliveira. Oliveira withdrew from their fight due to a personal tragedy, leading to Ruffy stepping in on short notice. Tsarukyan accepted the new opponent readily, emphasizing his commitment to fighting in Los Angeles, a city he considers a second home.

Tsarukyan has dedicated the past year to enhancing his MMA skills, particularly his grappling. He has actively participated in numerous wrestling and grappling matches, reporting significant improvements in his submission capabilities and takedown techniques. With his grappling honed, Tsarukyan now aims to focus on refining his boxing skills.

Looking beyond his UFC 331 bout, Tsarukyan has entertained the idea of transitioning to boxing. He specifically mentioned a potential boxing match against Islam Makhachev, noting that while their MMA fight didn't materialize twice, boxing could offer an alternative avenue. Tsarukyan also revealed he has a grappling match scheduled against Uriah Faber on October 8th, with several more grappling and wrestling contests planned before the year's end.

He anticipates facing Justin Gaethje in early 2027, provided he wins his upcoming fight against Ruffy. Tsarukyan expressed a desire to put on a strong performance in Los Angeles, aiming to rectify the disappointment from January when a previous event he was scheduled for was canceled, causing financial loss to ticket holders.