Arman Tsarukyan Knocks Out Mauricio Ruffy With Four Seconds Left in First Round as Armenian Fans Erupt in Los Angeles

Armenia’s Arman Tsarukyan knocked out Brazil’s Mauricio Ruffy with four seconds left in the opening round Saturday at UFC 331, delivering a dramatic finish in a fight with major implications for the lightweight title picture.

Tsarukyan stopped Ruffy with two powerful elbows at 4:56 of the first round in the five-round co-main event at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Ruffy used his reach effectively early, landing a sharp right hand while keeping Tsarukyan at distance. Tsarukyan soon turned to his wrestling, driving the Brazilian toward the fence and repeatedly looking for a takedown.

Ruffy defended well and quickly returned to his feet when Tsarukyan briefly brought him down. But Tsarukyan continued to pressure him against the cage, mixing his wrestling attacks with short strikes from the clinch.

The breakthrough came in the closing seconds of the round.

Tsarukyan changed levels as if he were going for another takedown, then came over the top with a hard elbow that caught Ruffy clean. With the Brazilian badly hurt, Tsarukyan followed with another elbow that dropped him and ended the fight.

“For my next fight, for the title fight, I needed that finish,” Tsarukyan said after the victory.

The win improved Tsarukyan’s professional record to 24-3 and extended his winning streak to six fights. It also strengthened his case for another opportunity to fight for the UFC lightweight championship after a title shot against Islam Makhachev in January 2025 fell through when Tsarukyan withdrew because of a back injury.

Tsarukyan entered UFC 331 saying he viewed the fight with Ruffy as a crucial step toward another title opportunity.

This time, he needed less than one round to make his case.

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