Arman Tsarukyan doesn’t care who Mauricio Ruffy trains with ahead of UFC 331.
This Saturday, Tsarukyan takes on Ruffy in a five-round co-main event for UFC 331 in Los Angeles. The bout is potentially a title eliminator, and as such, Ruffy has pulled out all the stops in his preparation, working with UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski and former champion Israel Adesanya. But Tsarukyan doesn’t think that will matter much once the cage door closes.
“You cannot compare Adesanya with me, and you cannot compare Volkanovski with me,” Tsarukyan told reporters during UFC 331 Media Day. “They’re completely different fighters. Yeah, he has power, and he has good striking, but I’m better everywhere. So with my wrestling and my striking that I can mix, I can always strike [with] him.”
That being said, Tsarukyan acknowledges that Ruffy is a dangerous opponent. The former Fighting Nerd enters the fight off back-to-back knockout wins over Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler, and has some of the most dangerous striking in the division. But Tsarukyan believes he really only has to be concerned early in the fight.
“He has a really awkward style,” Tsarukyan said. “I’ve never faced anybody like his striking. So it’s gonna be a little bit dangerous first round, but second round should be good.”
Tsarukyan is currently on a five-fight winning streak and seems to be the obvious next lightweight title challenger should he win on Saturday. However, former champion Ilia Topuria has already begun lobbying for a rematch with Justin Gaethje, claiming Gaethje cheated by loading his gloves. Tsarukyan thinks that’s nonsense.
“He’s complaining about gloves, but [it’s] just [an] excuse,” Tsarukyan said.
Similarly, Tsarukyan has no concerns about Topuria leapfrogging him for the title shot after he wins on Saturday, giving a succinct response when asked if beating Ruffy guarantees him a fight with Gaethje.
“100 percent.”
UFC 331 takes place this Saturday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, headlined by a flyweight title fight between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja.
