Multiple MMA outlets say Charles Oliveira's UFC 331 headliner is set: a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan, the lightweight who beat him by split decision in 2024, this time with Oliveira's BMF title on the line.
Reviewed by BJJ Gyms · Updated 2026-07-28
Records and UFC-tracked per-15-minute averages reported ahead of the rematch.
As of this week, nobody in either camp has put out a formal announcement, but the shape of the fight is coming together fast. A Russian MMA outlet first floated the pairing, and within days several English-language sites picked it up and treated it as close to done: September 19, Los Angeles, Oliveira's BMF title up for grabs against the man who already has his number.
Tsarukyan himself gave the loudest hint that something real is happening. He posted that he flew to Vegas to get the fight finalized, adding a short line about his plans for the rest of the year: "This year, 2 fights, 2 belts." That's not a UFC press release, but it's the closest thing to confirmation either fighter has offered so far.
This isn't a fresh matchup. Oliveira and Tsarukyan already shared the cage once, and Tsarukyan got the nod by split decision in a fight that was close enough to argue about either way. For Oliveira, it interrupted a stretch where he looked like the best version of himself in years. For Tsarukyan, it was supposed to be the launching pad to a title shot that never quite arrived.
Since that loss, Oliveira rebuilt his case the hard way, picking up wins that eventually put the BMF title around his waist. Tsarukyan, meanwhile, has mostly waited. His most recent outing was a second round submission of Dan Hooker back in 2025, and by his own account he's frustrated with how long the promotion has made him sit for a real opportunity.
It's tempting to write this off as two strikers settling a score, but both men have real jiu-jitsu behind their MMA games. Oliveira remains one of the most active submission threats the sport has ever seen, averaging roughly 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes across his career, and he doesn't need much room on the ground to go hunting.
Tsarukyan isn't just avoiding that threat, he's built to counter it directly. He lands takedowns at a clip of around 3.26 per 15 minutes, which means he has a genuine path to putting Oliveira on his back and controlling him rather than simply staying away from a scramble. If you train jiu-jitsu yourself, this is the matchup to watch for what happens in the transitions, not just the finishes.
The BMF title doesn't replace the actual lightweight championship, but a win here does real work for whoever gets it. Oliveira keeps building a resume that already includes the most submission wins in UFC history, while a win would finally hand Tsarukyan the signature victory his ranking has been begging for.
Set for September 19, the date gives both camps a full training camp to prepare, and it gives fans plenty of time to dig into the first fight before the rematch. Whatever the promotion decides to call the fight, expect the ground exchanges to say more about who wins than either man's hands will.
Here's the quick version if you're just catching up on the report.
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As of this writing it's being reported by multiple MMA outlets, tracing back to a report from RedFuryMMA, rather than a formal UFC announcement, so treat the pairing as very likely but not yet locked.
Tsarukyan beat Oliveira by split decision when they first met in 2024.
It's a symbolic UFC belt, separate from the actual lightweight championship, that Oliveira picked up after beating Max Holloway.
Yes, both men train jiu-jitsu at a black belt level, though Tsarukyan's game leans more on wrestling entries into his grappling than pure submission hunting.