Tsarukyan Says Gaethje Avoiding Him After Ruffy KO

Arman Tsarukyan thinks Justin Gaethje wants no part of him in the cage.

The top lightweight contender stopped Mauricio Ruffy with a first-round elbow at UFC 331 last weekend, cementing his status as the next challenger for Gaethje's lightweight strap. But Tsarukyan told reporters after the knockout that the champion was rooting for the upset, per MMA Fighting.

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Tsarukyan Accuses Champion Of Stalling Tactics

Tsarukyan said Gaethje refuses to mention him by name and predicted the titleholder will use financial demands or callouts of other fighters to delay the matchup. He also suggested Gaethje might threaten retirement unless the UFC meets unrealistic terms.

The UFC broadcast team backed Tsarukyan as the clear top contender following the finish. Joe Rogan told the Armenian in the post-fight interview that he had made his case with the performance.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC 331 on Ticketmaster →

Gaethje has ruled out fighting again in 2026 after injuring both hands during his title win over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250. No timeline has been announced for his return to action.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Arman Tsarukyan claims Justin Gaethje is avoiding him following KO win over Mauricio Ruffy: “He’s going to play around bullsh*t game”