Arman Tsarukyan: ''If I Beat Mauricio Ruffy, I Am Fighting for the Title!''

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has revealed that he was originally preparing for a high-profile rematch against former champion Charles Oliveira. Speaking on the Deep Waters podcast, Tsarukyan explained that he had already accepted the fight and started his training camp in Armenia when the plans fell through.

According to Tsarukyan, Oliveira withdrew from the UFC 331 co-main event following the tragic passing of his close teammate, Allan Nascimento. Then, Maurcio Ruffy got brought in as a replacement for ''De Brox''. Tsarukyan accepted the new matchup immediately, noting that he needed to compete since he had not fought yet this year. He also claimed that UFC officials assured him that a victory over Ruffy will officially guarantee him the next shot at the lightweight championship.