Tsarukyan On Possibly Headbutting Ruffy At UFC 331

Arman Tsarukyan is not ruling out another headbutt incident ahead of his UFC 331 clash with Mauricio Ruffy this weekend.

The No. 2-ranked lightweight famously headbutted Dan Hooker at the UFC Qatar weigh-ins last November, an act that derailed his title shot despite winning the fight by submission. When UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping asked whether the headbutting days are behind him, Tsarukyan left the door open. "You never know," he said, per BJPenn.com. "Hopefully nothing."

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Tsarukyan's Path Back To Title Shot After Hooker Incident

Tsarukyan confirmed to Bisping that the Hooker headbutt altered his trajectory in the lightweight division. UFC CEO Dana White has said publicly that behind-the-scenes issues have held the Armenian back from a title opportunity, though White appears to have softened his stance recently. A statement win over Ruffy on Saturday could put Tsarukyan in position to challenge champion Justin Gaethje for the 155-pound strap.

Tsarukyan sits second in both the Meta and media lightweight rankings. Most observers have long viewed him as the true top contender in the division, and this weekend's fight against the surging Ruffy offers a chance to cement that status. Whether he plays it safe at the ceremonial weigh-ins or indulges in more theatrics remains an open question heading into Friday's faceoff.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Arman Tsarukyan jokes about possibly headbutting Mauricio Ruffy during UFC 331 weigh-ins: “You never know”