Arman Tsarukyan delivered one of the most memorable finishes of 2026 during his lightweight clash against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331. The Armenian fighter secured a clinical victory with a devastating double-elbow knockout that left fans and analysts alike impressed by his precision and speed inside the octagon.
Reflecting on the decisive sequence, Tsarukyan revealed that the first elbow strike had already rendered Ruffy unconscious. However, he followed up with a second strike almost immediately to ensure the fight was well and truly over. Speaking with Adam Zubayraev about the finish, Tsarukyan admitted that the additional blow was essentially delivered just for fun, noting that he wanted to prevent any chance of his opponent waking up mid-exchange.
This matchup served as a pivotal moment in Tsarukyan’s career, as he viewed the bout as a crucial step toward securing a championship opportunity. Following the fight, the performance garnered significant praise from UFC commentator Joe Rogan. While the promotion has yet to finalize the next title challenger, Rogan publicly campaigned for Tsarukyan to receive the next shot at the belt during the broadcast.
Tsarukyan emphasized that his primary focus remains on fighting for the title next. Despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the division and the next opponent for Justin Gaethje, the victory at UFC 331 has firmly positioned the lightweight as a top contender. His calculated approach in the opening round and his ability to finish the fight in such spectacular fashion have solidified his standing among the elite athletes in his weight class. The report also notes that but hit him with a devastating second quickly to finish the fight, the Armenian landed one quick elbow that knocked Ruffy out cold.
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