Mauricio Ruffy on the Arman Tsarukyan knockout: 'The mistake was totally mine'
In his first statement since UFC 331, the Brazilian says he felt in control and was sure he would finish Tsarukyan in the second round before he relaxed on defence.
Mauricio Ruffy has taken the blame for his knockout by Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331, saying he relaxed on defence at the moment he thought the fight was his.
Tsarukyan stopped Ruffy at 4:56 of the first round on 19 September, a win that put him next in line for Justin Gaethje's lightweight title. In a video posted on Wednesday, his first statement since, Ruffy said he had felt on top.
"I felt the fight in my control... I felt that his strength was breaking... so he was hurt, his eye very closed... I was sure I would finish the fight in the second round. An important thing to say is that the mistake was totally mine. It was my fault, it was my carelessness."
He added: "I relaxed on defense, which I don't normally do, so I paid the price for it."
Full UFC 331 results. What Paddy Pimblett made of it: Pimblett sees weaknesses in Tsarukyan despite the knockout.
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