Daniel Cormier says Arman Tsarukyan win would “can’t be denied” lightweight title pathway at UFC 331

UFC commentator Daniel Cormier believes Arman Tsarukyan’s route to the lightweight championship is straightforward if the 5-round co-main outcome falls his way. Cormier’s assessment centers on Tsarukyan’s matchup with Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331, a card the UFC has officially announced with the fight positioned as the division’s five-round co-main event.

According to the event information tied to the matchup, Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy will headline the co-main spot on UFC 331 on September 19 Arena. The fact that the fight is scheduled for five rounds indicates the UFC’s intention to treat it as more than a routine rung on the ladder for the lightweight title picture.

Cormier’s argument, as reported, is that a Tsarukyan win would remove lingering doubt about who should challenge the lightweight champion next. In his view, the performance requirement is clear: beat Ruffy in a co-main setting that is built around championship-caliber pacing and decision-making.

That framing matters because the lightweight division typically churns through contenders quickly, with the UFC often balancing momentum against timing and stylistic matchup considerations. Slotting Tsarukyan and Ruffy into the five-round co-main window, and then having a prominent voice like Cormier explicitly connect a Tsarukyan victory to an “can’t be denied” title shot, underscores how UFC 331 is being marketed as an event where the hierarchy can be clarified.

What remains to be watched is how the UFC will handle the champion’s next step after UFC 331. While Cormier’s commentary suggests an immediate title-shot logic, championship decisions in mixed martial arts can also hinge on the champion’s plans, any mandatory obligations, and how convincingly the co-main unfolds in the Octagon.

For Tsarukyan, the matchup format creates a distinct standard. Five rounds limit the amount of margin for error and raise the likelihood that the winner is assessed by more than just a highlight moment. For Ruffy, that same structure turns the fight into a high-leverage opportunity, with the potential to change how the UFC evaluates the rest of the lightweight mix.

With UFC 331 approaching, the sport’s immediate storyline is not just whether Tsarukyan can win, but what the result does to the lightweight title conversation. Cormier’s stance places Tsarukyan’s win directly at the center of that conversation, setting a clear expectation for how fans and analysts will interpret the outcome once the bell rings on September 19.