Tsarukyan vs Ruffy at UFC 331 billed as Batman versus Deathstroke matchup

A comic-book comparison is making the rounds ahead of UFC 331, where lightweight contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy are set to collide — and fight fans on social media have latched onto a superhero framing to capture the contrast between the two men.

Tsarukyan, nicknamed "Ahalkalakets," carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the number-two ranking in the lightweight division. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, is viewed as the calculated, technically polished figure in this matchup. He lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more complete fighters in the 155-pound class.

Ruffy brings a different energy entirely. The 30-year-old Brazilian, ranked seventh at lightweight and representing The Fighting Nerds, carries a 14-2-0 record and a reputation built on fight-ending striking power. He lands 4.19 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent — numbers that reflect someone who finds a home for his shots when he lets them go. His takedown and submission averages are minimal, suggesting he is content to keep matters standing.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan sits just one step below a title shot at lightweight, and a loss to a surging contender would shake up that picture considerably
• Ruffy has climbed steadily through the rankings and a win over the number-two fighter would vault him into title contention
• The stylistic contrast is genuine: a high-volume wrestling-and-striking technician against a pure striker with notable finishing ability
• Lightweight remains one of the UFC's most competitive divisions, and this bout adds another compelling layer to an already crowded contender picture