Arman Tsarukyan to Face Mauricio Ruffy After Charles Oliveira Withdraws From UFC Fight

Armenian UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan will face Brazil’s Mauricio Ruffy instead of former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira after Oliveira withdrew from their scheduled bout for personal reasons, setting up a pivotal fight that could determine the next challenger for the UFC lightweight title.

The matchup gives Tsarukyan another chance to prove he belongs at the top of one of the UFC’s deepest divisions. A victory would likely move the Armenian closer to the championship opportunity that slipped away after he was forced out of a title fight last year.

Tsarukyan was scheduled to compete for the lightweight belt but withdrew just one day before the event because of a back injury. The late cancellation drew criticism from UFC President Dana White, who said the Armenian would need to earn another shot at the title.

Since then, Tsarukyan has remained firmly in the championship picture. He served as the backup fighter for the lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and Oliveira before returning to action with a dominant second-round arm-triangle choke submission victory over Dan Hooker in Qatar.

Now, he faces another dangerous opponent in a five-round contest with major implications for the division.

Ruffy enters the fight riding renewed momentum after rebuilding his standing in the UFC. The Brazilian earned a contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023 and quickly became one of the promotion’s fastest-rising prospects with impressive victories over Jamie Mullarkey and King Green, the latter ending with a highlight-reel knockout.

His rise was temporarily halted by Benoît Saint Denis, who defeated him by submission after controlling the fight on the ground. Ruffy responded with two statement victories this year, knocking out Rafael Fiziev in the second round before stopping former title challenger Michael Chandler in the opening round at the UFC’s White House event.

Those performances earned Ruffy the biggest opportunity of his career. A win over Tsarukyan would likely propel the Brazilian into title contention, while victory for the Armenian would put him back within reach of the lightweight championship many believe he has spent years pursuing.

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