Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy face off ahead of UFC 331

Arman Tsarukyan and Brazil's Mauricio Ruffy came face to face in Los Angeles ahead of their fight at UFC 331. The lightweight contenders took part in a traditional staredown at Crypto.com Arena.

Tsarukyan appeared at the faceoff wearing sunglasses. The two fighters stared at each other intensely for several seconds, but the encounter remained calm, with no pushing, provocations or other incidents.

Tsarukyan and Ruffy to fight over five rounds

The fight between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy will serve as the co-main event of UFC 331 and is scheduled for five rounds.

The event will take place in Los Angeles on September 19, while in Yerevan the card will be held in the early hours of September 20.

The winner of Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy is likely to take a major step toward a UFC lightweight title fight. The Armenian fighter is currently No. 2 in the UFC rankings, while Ruffy occupies the No. 10 spot.

Tsarukyan is riding a five-fight winning streak

Arman Tsarukyan has recorded 23 wins and three losses in his professional MMA career, with 15 of his victories coming inside the distance.

The Armenian fighter has won his last five bouts. In his previous appearance, Tsarukyan submitted Dan Hooker in the second round.

Mauricio Ruffy enters the upcoming fight with a professional record of 14 wins and two losses. The Brazilian is particularly known for his knockout power, having claimed 13 of his 14 victories by knockout.

In his most recent fight, Ruffy knocked out former UFC title challenger Michael Chandler in the opening round.

UFC 331 main event

The UFC 331 main event will feature a flyweight championship rematch between champion Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja.

The Tsarukyan-Ruffy clash will therefore be one of the key fights on the card and could have a significant impact on the UFC lightweight title picture.