Mauricio Ruffy Gets the Ultimate Heat Check Against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331

The UFC matchmaking room has officially decided to skip the shallow end of the pool and throw Mauricio Ruffy directly into the deep end.

According to MMA Junkie, Ruffy has landed a massive co-main event booking against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331.

"MMA Junkie noted Ruffy 'gets a big opportunity' with this booking."

Calling this a "big opportunity" is like saying a sudden audit from the IRS is a chance to organize your receipts. Tsarukyan is one of the most terrifying, battle-tested lightweights on the planet, and you do not accidentally end up in a cage with him.

The UFC clearly wants to find out if Ruffy is a legitimate superstar in waiting or just a guy who looks great against lower-tier competition. Fast-tracking a rising fighter into a pay-per-view co-main event against an elite contender is the ultimate heat check.

It is the combat sports equivalent of going from playing Madden on rookie mode straight to the competitive circuit. There is no in-between here; you either shock the world or get exposed on a massive stage.

When the betting windows open for this one, expect the lines to reflect the massive gap in high-level experience. Tsarukyan will almost certainly open as a heavy favorite, and the early money will tell us exactly how much the public buys into the Ruffy hype.

We will find out at UFC 331 if Ruffy is ready to crash the lightweight elite or if Tsarukyan is just going to add another violent reminder to his resume about the difference between a prospect and a contender.