Arman Tsarukyan is one of the UFC's most feared lightweight wrestlers, and Daniel Cormier keeps landing some of his best interviews. The Armenian standout, currently ranked number 2 in the UFC lightweight division, built a devastating 23-3 professional record in mixed martial arts, and in a September 2026 sit-down ahead of his UFC 331 co-main event against Mauricio Ruffy, Tsarukyan jokingly told Cormier I can fight anybody in this room right now, referencing the two-division former champion sitting across from him. Cormier has become one of Tsarukyan's most consistent media outlets, previously breaking down his 10-hour daily livestreams and repeatedly arguing he deserves the next UFC lightweight title shot. Known for relentless takedown pressure and ferocious grappling, Tsarukyan's candid interviews remain some of combat sports' most compelling content.
Arman Tsarukyan turned a pre-fight media sit-down into one of the more memorable moments of the UFC 331 build-up when the lightweight contender jokingly told interviewer Daniel Cormier he could fight anyone in the room — glancing directly at the two-division former champion seated across from him.
Tsarukyan, 29, carries a 24-3 professional record and holds the number-two spot in the UFC lightweight rankings. The Russia-based Armenian trains out of American Top Team and has built his reputation on relentless grappling, averaging 3.25 takedowns per 15 minutes while landing close to four significant strikes per minute. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he has been one of the division's most physically imposing wrestlers for fighters well above his height.
The quip landed with extra weight given Cormier's history. The 47-year-old retired champion holds a 22-3 career record and remains one of the most decorated grapplers in UFC history, having held titles simultaneously at light heavyweight and heavyweight. Cormier has become a reliable platform for Tsarukyan's most candid moments, previously covering the fighter's marathon ten-hour daily livestreams and publicly making the case that Tsarukyan deserves the next shot at lightweight gold.
On the other side of the UFC 331 co-main event is Mauricio Ruffy, the 30-year-old Brazilian ranked seventh in the lightweight division. Fighting out of The Fighting Nerds camp, Ruffy is an orthodox striker who stands five-foot-eleven with a 75-inch reach and posts a striking accuracy of 56 percent — among the sharper numbers in the division.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's number-two ranking means a strong performance at UFC 331 could strengthen his title claim
- A win over the seventh-ranked Ruffy would be a meaningful résumé addition heading into any title negotiation
- The style contrast — Tsarukyan's high-volume wrestling versus Ruffy's precise striking — sets up a genuine tactical puzzle
- Cormier's ongoing advocacy for Tsarukyan keeps the contender visible in the title conversation between fights
