Sarukyan stuns Ruffi with first-round knockout at UFC 331

Armenian-Russian mixed martial artist Arman Sarukyan delivered a dominant first-round knockout of Brazilian fighter Mauricio Ruffi at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on September 20, 2026. The co-main event bout ended at 4:56 of the first round when Sarukyan landed consecutive elbow strikes to Ruffi's head during the final seconds, forcing the referee to stop the fight. The victory extends Sarukyan's professional record to 24–3 and marks his sixth consecutive UFC victory.

Sarukyan, ranked second in the UFC lightweight division, controlled most of the opening round through clinch pressure against the cage before delivering the finishing elbow strikes. Ruffi, a heavy-hitting knockout artist ranked seventh in the division, appeared unprepared for Sarukyan's close-range assault despite both fighters engaging in heated words before the bout. Following the victory, Sarukyan immediately called for a championship opportunity, stating that his next fight must be for the belt.

UFC President Dana White commented positively on Sarukyan's return after time away from the octagon, saying the fighter "came back and did everything right." The knockout was awarded "Performance of the Night" honors, granting Sarukyan a $100,000 bonus. Current lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, aged 37, holds the title after defeating Ilia Topuria in July. Sarukyan previously stated the UFC had promised him a title shot following a successful performance against Ruffi, though no official opponent has been formally announced.