UFC 331 is going down right now at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with the main card live on Paramount+. I am circling the co-main event as a prime spot to find betting value, where number two contender Arman Tsarukyan faces surging Brazilian knockout artist Mauricio Ruffy in a classic grappler versus striker showcase.

Tsarukyan needs a flawless performance to lock in a title shot against Justin Gaethje. Ruffy is a live underdog hoping to crash the lightweight party with his devastating power. I love the stylistic contrast here for wagering purposes.

Let’s dive into my Tsarukyan vs Ruffy prediction, odds and best bets for the UFC 331 co-main event.

My Tsarukyan vs Ruffy prediction sees the favorite end this fight by submission. I respect Ruffy and his ability to turn off the lights in a flash. He is a notoriously fast starter who will aggressively hunt for another early knockout. But his grappling defense completely fell off a cliff against Benoit Saint-Denis. In that bout, Ruffy surrendered three takedowns and spent 4:38 trapped under heavy pressure before succumbing to a second-round submission.

That specific flaw plays right into the hands of Tsarukyan, who has the exact blueprint to exploit it. I saw him run this identical strategy when he dragged Dan Hooker to the mat, logged six minutes of control time, and tapped him out in the second frame. Tsarukyan is going to weather the early striking storm, close the distance, and drag Ruffy into deep water.

Laying -333 on the moneyline is a poor spot for bankroll management. I am pivoting to the exact method market where the math makes much more sense. The wrestling discrepancy is far too wide to ignore, and Ruffy has already proven he struggles badly off his back. Claim the BetMGM promo code to tail this pick.

The stylistic divide here is massive. Tsarukyan relies on a suffocating wrestling base to drown opponents on the canvas. He logged 8:41 of control time while landing two takedowns in his recent split-decision win over Charles Oliveira. Against Damir Ismagulov, he scored seven takedowns and dominated with over nine minutes of control. I expect him to lean entirely on that grappling advantage.

Ruffy is an absolute terror on his feet. The Brazilian has zero recorded takedowns across his recent run against elite names like Michael Chandler and Rafael Fiziev, and he does not need grappling when his hands hit this hard. He slept Chandler in the first round, scoring two knockdowns, and also dropped Fiziev, King Green, and Jamie Mullarkey to secure devastating finishes.