Cejudo Thinks Ruffy Could Leapfrog to Gaethje With a UFC 331 Win

Arman Tsarukyan walks into Saturday's UFC 331 co-main event as the guy who's supposed to earn a title shot. He's ranked No. 2 at lightweight, riding a five-fight win streak, and has taken 10 of his last 11. Beat Mauricio Ruffy and, on paper, he's next. On paper.

Henry Cejudo isn't buying the paper. On his Pound 4 Pound podcast, the former two-division champ argued that a big win from Ruffy could vault the Brazilian straight past everyone and into a fight with lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. His pitch was simple: who wouldn't want to watch that? Cejudo believes an impressive Ruffy performance means he's the one who's next.

The bout is officially billed as a No. 1 contender fight, but that label has meant little for Tsarukyan lately. He's held the top-contender slot for a stretch already without cashing it in. His first crack at gold, at UFC 311, fell apart when a back injury forced him out a day before his fight with then-champ Islam Makhachev. Renato Moicano was bumped up to the main event on no notice, Makhachev finished him fast, and Tsarukyan has been in the waiting room ever since.

Why Tsarukyan Keeps Waiting

Part of the problem is bigger than results. Dana White has openly said he's had issues with Tsarukyan — both over the UFC 311 withdrawal and a headbutt he threw at Dan Hooker before their bout in Qatar last November. Tsarukyan dominated Hooker anyway, taking a second-round arm-triangle submission, but the win didn't seem to move the needle with matchmakers. Cejudo put it bluntly: he doesn't think White is as fond of Tsarukyan as fans might hope, and you can hear it in the interviews.

Ruffy's résumé doesn't stack up to Tsarukyan's on record alone, but it's loud. He's become a fan favorite off highlight-reel finishes, including a 2025 Knockout of the Year over Bobby Green, and followed it by starching Michael Chandler at the massive UFC White House card in June. Cejudo also flagged Ruffy's move to Australia and his work alongside featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski, specifically on getting back to his feet — the exact skill that troubled Makhachev.

The Real Decision-Maker

Here's the catch Cejudo kept circling back to: none of this is decided in the cage. Gaethje isn't expected to defend until 2027, former champ Ilia Topuria is angling for a rematch, and nothing is promised to either man Saturday night. Cejudo stressed that matchmaking chief Hunter Campbell can promise things, but White can revoke or grant them at will — and he doesn't sound convinced Tsarukyan gets rewarded even with a win.

For what it's worth, Cejudo still leans toward the wrestler. He said it's hard to bet against a grappler making a living off the takedown, though he'd give Ruffy the edge if the fight stays standing. Tsarukyan is the heavy betting favorite. His wrestling-first style should be the ideal foil for Ruffy's striking — the classic grappler-versus-striker puzzle, with a title shot that may or may not be waiting on the other side.