Mauricio Ruffy: ''My Goal is to Finish Arman Tsarukyan!''

Mauricio Ruffy views his upcoming number one contender bout against Arman Tsarukyan as the ultimate breakthrough opportunity. Speaking on UFC on Paramount+, the Brazilian striker revealed he accepted the high-stakes matchup immediately, knowing a victory will propel him directly into a UFC lightweight title fight.

Ruffy’s relentless mindset was forged early, having left home at just 14 years old to pursue martial arts. To sharpen his skills, he has traveled the world, training in elite gyms across Thailand and Australia alongside top-tier fighters like former champion Alexander Volkanovski. Ruffy explained that he constantly seeks out discomfort and tough competition to grow, preferring to let his actions do the talking inside the cage.

While Ruffy acknowledges Tsarukyan’s elite wrestling and respects his overall skillset, he remains entirely unfazed by his opponent's strengths. Instead, Ruffy is completely focused on his own capabilities and execution. He stated that he steps into the Octagon with the sole intention of finding a finish, rather than leaving the decision to the judges.

Summarizing his strict work ethic and mental toughness ahead of the five-round battle, Ruffy shared a well-known proverb from his home country: "In Brazil they say, those who do more, cry less!".