UFC 331 results: Arman Tsarukyan makes statement with hellacious elbow KO of Mauricio Ruffy

LOS ANGELES – Arman Tsarukyan understood the assignment.

In order give himself the best chance at securing the next UFC lightweight title shot, Tsarukyan needed to make an emphatic statement – and that he did by knocking out Mauricio Ruffy in the UFC 331 co-main event at Crypto.com Arena. The finish came at the 4:56 mark of the first round thanks to a hellacious elbow that sent Ruffy crashing to the canvas.

ARMAN TSARUKYAN JUST SLEPT MAURICIO RUFFY IN THE FIRST ROUND WITH A NASTY ELBOW

OH MY GODDDDD 🤯 #UFC331pic.twitter.com/LdG2nOzeSp

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 20, 2026

Tsarukyan faced some early adversity when a stiff right hand from Ruffy buckled him. It also caused severe swelling under his left eye, and it’s possible the fight could’ve been stopped had it reached the end of Round 1.

But Tsarukyan pulled the violent finish from out of nowhere up against the cage to leave no doubt.

Tsarukyan, 29, has spent the better part of two years ranked No. 1 in the UFC 155-pound rankings. However, he’s been passed up for title shots following his pullout of his lone opportunity in January 2025 against Islam Makhachev.

Could Dana White and the UFC brass now have no choice but to book him against champion Justin Gaethje next? Time will tell.

• Arman Tsarukyan def. Mauricio Ruffy via knockout (elbow) – Round 1, 4:56
• Patricio Freire def. Dooho Choi via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:28
• Sean Sharaf def. Gable Steveson via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:12
• Alonzo Menifield def. Iwo Baraniewski via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Marlon Vera def. Charles Jourdain via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:02
• Robelis Despaigne def. Tai Tuivasa via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Michael Aswell def. JooSang Yoo via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Ryan Gandra def. Ozzy Diaz via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:04
• Edmen Shahbazyan def. Brunno Ferreira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Casey O’Neill def. Eduarda Moura via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:22
• Joanderson Brito def. Giga Chikadze via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:57

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 331 results: Arman Tsarukyan makes statement with hellacious elbow KO of Mauricio Ruffy