Check out MMA expert Adam Catterall's latest tips and predictions for the UFC 331 co-main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy on Saturday night.
Adam Catterall's Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy Tips
Arman Tsarukyan to win by Decision or Technical Decision - 7/2
If circumstances unfolded differently over the course of the last couple of years Arman Tsarukyan might already have claimed UFC gold in the lightweight division.
After all, the 29-year-old was scheduled to rematch then-champion Islam Makhachev in January 2025 before he was forced to withdraw on short notice after suffering an injury on fight week.
Since then he has been embroiled in yet more controversies, but also offered a timely reminder of his ability with a second-round finish of Dan Hooker back in November.
Victory for Tsarukyan this weekend will put him right in line for a title shot, but to get there he will have to overcome top contender Mauricio Ruffy in Los Angeles.
While Ruffy is currently riding a wave of momentum following his spectacular KO of Michael Chandler at the UFC White House event, MMA expert Adam Catterall claimed Tsarukyan will get his hand raised when it's all said and done.
"Arman Tsarukyan could make this look very very easy," Catterall said on bet365 Cageside.
"If he just wants to make this a brutal fight on the mat he can do that and he can do it over 25 minutes. He might even be able to fish out a finish from round three onwards.
"Something tells me though that Tsarukyan might just decide trade early doors, and if he does, that then opens the door for Mauricio Ruffy.
"Hopefully, we get that, because that's where the entertainment factor in this fight is.
"If Arman Tsarukyan's got any ambitions of fighting for a title he cannot afford to lose this fight. I think he's time recently in the Real American Freestyle wrestling competitions will have done him the world of good.
"He did suffer defeat in one of those which humbled him a touch and I think he will come with a fresh attitude into this fight with Mauricio Ruffy.
"I'm going to go with Tsarukyan over the full 25-minute distance, to get his hand raised via decision."
Odds displayed in the above article were correct at time of publishing and are subject to change or withdrawal at any time.
