Mauricio Ruffy releases statement following his devastating knockout loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331, taking full responsibility for the defeat while promising fans he will learn from the setback and come back stronger.
Ruffy entered the UFC 331 co-main event riding plenty of momentum and accepted the high-stakes matchup against Tsarukyan on relatively short notice. The fight served as a lightweight title eliminator, and the Brazilian started brightly, defending takedowns and finding success on the feet.
However, with just seconds remaining in the opening round, Tsarukyan landed a brutal elbow and follow-up strikes that knocked Ruffy out cold.
Days after the loss, Mauricio Ruffy releases statement on social media, opening up about the fight and explaining where he believes things went wrong.
“First, I want to thank God. Thank God for my life and my health. I am in perfect health, 100 percent. I feel very well, and I’ve received so much affection from all of you,” Ruffy said. “I received so many amazing messages. I haven’t even finished reading them all yet. I felt very supported and embraced by everyone, and I wanted to stop and make this video to thank you.”
Ruffy revealed that he had just over six weeks to prepare for the fight and pushed himself to the limit throughout camp.
“I was called a little over six weeks before the fight—exactly six weeks and four days—and I dedicated everything to this camp,” he said. “I stayed away from my family and dealt with a lot of situations during the preparation. My body couldn’t take much more, but I gave everything I had. Even though it was a short camp, I felt ready to fight any opponent.”
The Brazilian also admitted he entered the fight with a different mindset than usual. Rather than chasing a quick finish, he wanted to test himself in every area against one of the division’s elite fighters.
“I arrived so confident that I wanted to experience everything for the first time,” Ruffy explained. “I didn’t want a first-round knockout. I wanted to overcome things in my head and prove to myself that I could handle every situation. I wanted to defend takedowns, deal with adversity, and show that I was ready for anything.”
As the fight unfolded, Ruffy felt he was gaining control and believed Tsarukyan was beginning to fade.
“When I dropped him and felt his strength starting to fade, I felt the fight was under my control,” Ruffy said. “His eye was swelling, and I felt he was getting hurt. I was certain I would finish the fight in the second round.”
Despite his confidence, Ruffy acknowledged that one defensive lapse changed everything.
“An important thing to say is that the mistake was totally mine. It was my fault, my carelessness, and his merit. Arman is an excellent fighter.”
“When my corner yelled that there were ten seconds left and he shot for my legs, I actually thought that was the best thing for me. I believed he would use more energy there and I could finish him in the second round.”
“There were four seconds left. I could have thrown strikes or moved away from the fence, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to use that moment against him. It was a good idea, but I got careless. I relaxed on defense, which I normally never do, and I paid the price for it.”
While disappointed by the result, Ruffy said he views the loss as part of his growth as a fighter.
“I want to apologize to my fans for the sadness of this defeat,” he said. “I know it’s not easy to support someone through a loss, but I’m learning. You’ve seen my evolution in every fight, and this fight was going very well before the mistake. Losses are difficult, but they help us grow.”
The defeat marks the second UFC loss of Ruffy’s career, but the Brazilian remains one of the lightweight division’s most dangerous strikers. Despite the setback, his willingness to take responsibility and address the mistakes openly shows the mindset of a fighter determined to bounce back.
For now, Mauricio Ruffy releases statement with a clear message: he accepts the loss, respects Tsarukyan’s performance, and is already focused on returning stronger.
