UFC 331 Undercard: Tsarukyan-Ruffy, Steveson Return in LA — SkimNews
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- Arman Tsarukyan (No. 2 lightweight) meets Mauricio Ruffy (No. 7) in what the piece calls 'the people's main event,' with Tsarukyan admitting his championship aspirations are 'finished if he loses Saturday'
- Tsarukyan is fighting further from a title shot than expected but has grown into a bigger star after pulling out of his scheduled UFC 311 lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev, which 'sullied his reputation with the promotion'
- Mauricio Ruffy has reinvented himself under featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski after being dominated by wrestler Benoit Saint Denis last year, with coaches citing improved defensive grappling alongside his knockout power
- Gable Steveson, the Olympic gold medalist training under Jon Jones, makes a quick turnaround against U.S. Marine Sean Sharaf after a successful first-round KO promotional debut at UFC 329
- Patricio Pitbull, called 'the greatest champion in Bellator history,' meets 'The Korean Superboy' Dooho Choi at age 39 in a bout the piece frames as Pitbull 'on borrowed time' after arriving in the UFC 'too late'
- Choi enters on a four-fight unbeaten streak, with his 2016 bout against Cub Swanson cited as among the best fights in UFC history; a win could crack the featherweight elite by taking Pitbull's No. 15 ranking
Why it matters: Tsarukyan (No. 2) faces a ranked opponent at a career-defining moment — he himself says a loss ends his title trajectory — while Steveson's quick return tests whether the Olympic wrestling standout can broaden his skill set beyond his debut showcase. For Pitbull, a 39-year-old Bellator legend now 1.5+ years removed from his prime, Choi represents a young, resurgent gatekeeper at No. 15 featherweight who could either revive or close out his UFC chapter.
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