Hold up, fight fans, because Eddie Alvarez just dropped a take on UFC Lightweight champ Justin Gaethje’s future that’s got everyone scratching their heads. The former UFC champ believes Gaethje will actually have an *easier* time in the Octagon against Arman Tsarukyan compared to Mauricio Ruffy, even though Tsarukyan is widely considered more well-rounded and likely to win in a head-to-head with Ruffy. This isn’t just a hot take, it’s a stylistic bombshell heading into a massive contender fight.
The Champ’s Next Challenger: Who’s the Real Threat?
Justin Gaethje, sitting pretty at 28-5 MMA and 11-5 UFC, is the Lightweight champ after an upset win over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250. He’s taking the rest of 2026 off, which sets up a huge potential No. 1 contender bout at UFC 331 on September 19. That’s when Arman Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) and Mauricio Ruffy (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) throw down at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Most folks are looking at Tsarukyan with his far better resume, thinking he’s the obvious choice to give Gaethje trouble. But Alvarez sees it completely differently. “I actually like Justin’s chances a lot against Arman,” Alvarez told MMA Junkie. “I think that style against Arman, that’s an easier style. I think that’s an easier style for Justin than against Ruffy.” Talk about a plot twist, right?
Why Ruffy’s Style Is Gaethje’s Nightmare
Alvarez breaks down exactly why he thinks Ruffy, despite potentially losing to Tsarukyan, presents a tougher matchup for the champ. “Ruffy has longer, cleaner boxing and keeps the range really well and doesn’t overthrow,” Alvarez said. “He’s pretty tight with his punches. I think he’s a worse matchup for Justin.” So, it’s not about who’s “better” on paper, it’s about the clash of styles. Gaethje’s brawling, high-pressure approach could struggle more against Ruffy’s precise, tight boxing and range control. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan has fought just once in the past two-plus years, a quick submission of Dan Hooker last November. He’s been active in grappling and wrestling events, though. Alvarez doesn’t see that as a problem. “Arman hasn’t been inside the cage that much, so we’ll see if that’s a factor, too, but I haven’t really seen him unprepared,” he noted. “He always seems like he’s pretty ready.”
So, as Tsarukyan and Ruffy get ready to battle it out for that shot at Gaethje, the stakes just got even more interesting. It’s not just about who wins, but *how* they win, and what that style means for the Lightweight champ. Catch UFC 331 on September 19 and see if Alvarez’s wild prediction plays out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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