Four fighters, four different paths to becoming the face of the UFC. Conor McGregor is the historic face, Islam Makhachev represents sporting excellence, Arman Tsarukyan is the social-media star, and Ilia Topuria is the global superstar. On @kalshi there is a 72% chance that Arman Tsarukyan will get the victory over Mauricio Ruffy at #UFC331
A social media post circulating ahead of UFC 331 frames four fighters as representing distinct archetypes of stardom in the sport, while market data points to Arman Tsarukyan as a heavy favorite heading into his scheduled bout against Mauricio Ruffy.
The post draws a loose taxonomy of UFC prominence: Conor McGregor as the historic face of the promotion, Islam Makhachev as the embodiment of sporting excellence, Arman Tsarukyan as a social-media-driven star, and Ilia Topuria as the global superstar. The framing doubles as a backdrop for the Kalshi prediction market figure, which places Tsarukyan at a 72 percent probability of defeating Ruffy at the event.
Tsarukyan, nicknamed "Ahalkalakets," carries a 23-3-0 record and sits ranked second in the lightweight division. The 29-year-old Russian trains out of American Top Team and brings a well-rounded profile into the cage — 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 offensive threats in the 155-pound class.
Makhachev, now campaigning at welterweight, holds a 29-1-0 record and the division's championship at 34 years old. The Russian southpaw is particularly efficient, connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes while averaging 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. Topuria, fighting out of Spain under the banner of Climent Club, sits ranked first in lightweight at 17-1-0. The 29-year-old "El Matador" generates an eye-catching 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes, reflecting the aggressive, finishing-oriented style that has made him a global draw.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's bout with Ruffy carries divisional weight at lightweight, where he sits just behind Topuria in the rankings
- A Tsarukyan win at 72 percent market probability would strengthen his case as the next title contender in a stacked 155-pound division
- The broader framing highlights how the UFC's marketability increasingly depends on figures who transcend pure athletic performance
