Daniel Cormier: Arman Tsarukyan's Fight Against Mauricio Ruffy Strengthens His Title Case Daniel Cormier has expressed confidence that Arman Tsarukyan’s recent decision to face Mauricio Ruffy in a five-round co-main event at UFC 331 will solidify his position as a top contender for a title shot. Cormier, a former UFC heavyweight champion, highlighted Tsarukyan’s commitment to proving himself in the lightweight division after withdrawing from his scheduled title fight against Islam Makhachev. The 23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC fighter initially pulled out of the UFC 311 matchup due to a back injury, a move that sparked speculation about his future in the division. Since then, Tsarukyan has taken steps to rebuild his credibility, including a swift submission victory over Dan Hooker in November. Cormier noted that Tsarukyan had previously confirmed plans to face Charles Oliveira in a rematch at UFC 331, which was set for September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. However, the event’s lineup shifted when Oliveira’s teammate, Allan Nascimento, passed away tragically. Oliveira opted out of the fight, and Tsarukyan was instead paired with rising contender Mauricio Ruffy, a 14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC fighter known for his resilience and recent performance at the White House Fight Night. Cormier emphasized that Tsarukyan’s acceptance of the Ruffy fight demonstrates his willingness to embrace challenges, a trait that could make him more appealing to UFC executives. “Arman Tsarukyan saying yes to this fight I believe strengthens his case over anything,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “The one thing that made it hard for Arman to get that title shot that so many people feel he deserves is because of the way the last fight that he was scheduled with Islam went down.#daniel_cormier #crypto_com_arena #arman_tsarukyan #mauricio_ruffy #ufc_331
