Arman Tsarukyan is joking about a potential repeat of a headbutt moment during the UFC 331 weigh-ins. He referred to the incident where he headbutted Dan Hooker at the UFC Qatar weigh-ins in November 2025.
The confrontation with Hooker nearly jeopardized the fight. Although the bout proceeded, and Tsarukyan won by submission, his actions had repercussions.
During an interview with Michael Bisping, Tsarukyan acknowledged that the headbutt derailed his lightweight title shot plans.
When Bisping inquired if such incidents were behind him, Tsarukyan playfully suggested he might act unpredictably again when facing his UFC 331 opponent, Mauricio Ruffy, during the face-off.
"You never know," Tsarukyan stated. "Hopefully, nothing."
UFC CEO Dana White has previously mentioned that off-competition issues have hindered Tsarukyan, a top-ranked lightweight. White appears to have developed a more favorable view of Tsarukyan recently. A strong performance from Tsarukyan on Saturday, coupled with strategic conduct, could position him for a potential challenge against Justin Gaethje for the lightweight championship.
Tsarukyan currently holds the No. 2 ranking among UFC lightweights on both the Meta and media rankings. Many fans and experts consider him the de facto No. 1 contender, and this weekend could be the opportunity to solidify that status.
