UFC commentator Daniel Cormier says that Arman Tsarukyan can’t be denied a lightweight title shot with a win over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331.
The UFC officially announced this week that Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy will be the five-round co-main event for the upcoming UFC 331 event, which takes place on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Tsarukyan was originally linked to a rematch against UFC BMF champion Charles Oliveira, but that fight fizzled out, leading to Ruffy getting this massive opportunity instead.
With UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje taking the rest of the year off after two wars with Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria, he won’t be back until 2027, so this fight between Tsarukyan and Ruffy will likely serve as a title eliminator at 155 lbs, though UFC president Dana White has yet to confirm that.
Daniel Cormier Wants Arman Tsarukyan to Get UFC Title Shot With Win
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cormier made the argument that Tsarukyan should get the next title shot at 155 lbs should he get past Ruffy at UFC 331.
“If I’m being honest, Arman Tsarukyan told me in Abu Dhabi it was going to be him and Oliveira. No BMF title, it was going to be him and Oliveira fighting in Los Angeles. And Arman told me, he just wants to continue to fight to essentially make himself undeniable because he wants a title opportunity. Yesterday we got that he’s fighting Mauricio Ruffy. That’s a dangerous fight with not as much upside because Ruffy while he is good, and while he did have that great win at the White House, he doesn’t have the name value as Charles Oliveira,” Cormier said (via MMAjunkie.com).
“Arman Tsarukyan saying yes to this fight I believe strengthens his case over anything. 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. But now he’s saying yes to everybody and everything under any type of fighting situation. That makes you the guy that everybody wants to work with.”
Daniel Cormier Explains Why Charles Oliveira Isn’t Fighting Arman Tsarukyan
While the UFC never officially confirmed that the rematch between Tsarukyan and Oliveira was going to take place at UFC 331, it was heavily rumored to be the case.
However, according to Cormier, the reason why that fight isn’t happening, and why we are getting Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy instead, is because of the tragic and sudden passing last week of Oliveira’s teammate at Chute Boxe Diego Lima, the late Allan Nascimento.
“Now, it’s unfortunate because we would have loved to see him and Oliveira have a rematch. The first fight was tremendous. Arman actually hit a fan on the way to the octagon, but unfortunately, Charles’ teammate passed away, and that’s why, I believe, we’re not getting the Charles fight. … Arman-Ruffy is going to be good, though. It’s going to be an amazing fight, and Los Angeles always has great fights,” Cormier said.
Daniel Cormier: Arman Tsarukyan Can’t Be Denied UFC Title Shot