UFC 331 fight fallout: Best options for Arman Tsarukyan, Joshua Van and more after a wild Saturday night — SkimNews
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- Arman Tsarukyan knocked out Mauricio Ruffy in Round 1 at UFC 331, surviving a near doctor-stoppage when Ruffy's punch nearly closed his swollen eye before finishing the bout with a pair of elbows.
- Joshua Van defended his UFC flyweight title in a five-round main event against Alexandre Pantoja, with the article calling for Van to face Manel Kape—who has finished his last four opponents with one-shot power—next.
- Alexandre Pantoja is recommended to fight Asu Almabayev, with the piece arguing the flyweight division is ready to move past Pantoja in the title picture without risking a new immediate contender.
- Mauricio Ruffy is proposed to face Salahdine Parnasse after his loss, with the article noting the jump from fighting Michael Chandler to Tsarukyan was an "unfathomable escalation" and Ruffy shouldn't be punished for losing.
- Justin Gaethje is named Tsarukyan's logical next opponent, with the article declaring "there is no one more deserving of a lightweight title shot than Tsarukyan" as he capitalizes on his career-best win.
Why it matters: Tsarukyan's Round 1 knockout resolves months of tension between him and UFC brass by producing an undeniable No. 1 contender at lightweight, while Van's main-event star turn over a respected champion like Pantoja gives the historically overlooked flyweight division its first truly marketable title fight.
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