Tsarukyan On Never Getting Title Shot If He Loses UFC 331

Arman Tsarukyan says a loss to Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 could end his championship dreams for good.

Tsarukyan faces Ruffy on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles with a potential title shot against Justin Gaethje hanging in the balance, though UFC CEO Dana White has not confirmed the matchup. The lightweight contender told fans on his YouTube channel that falling to Ruffy would likely close the door on a belt fight permanently. "If I lose this fight, I'm never going to see a title fight," he said, per BJ Penn.com. "That's why I'm super motivated for this fight, super hungry."

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Tsarukyan's Path Back From UFC Fallout

The stakes reflect how much ground Tsarukyan had to recover after his removal from a planned title bout against Islam Makhachev in early 2025. White reportedly cited behind-the-scenes issues that damaged the fighter's standing with the promotion. Tsarukyan appears to have repaired that relationship by accepting the Ruffy fight and ramping up his social media presence. A convincing win would make it difficult to deny him a crack at Gaethje, who is expected to remain out for the rest of 2026 with hand injuries.

Tsarukyan framed the fight as all-or-nothing. "I'm taking Mauricio Ruffy as an opponent for my title fight," he said. "Every fight for me is important. I give all of myself in [my] training camp."

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

The lightweight division's next moves hinge on how Sept. 19 plays out. If Tsarukyan delivers, a 2027 title shot looks likely. If he stumbles, the window may shut.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Arman Tsarukyan admits he may never get title shot if he loses UFC 331 bout against Mauricio Ruffy