Dana White changes his tune on Arman Tsarukyan after UFC 331 stunner

Dana White has softened his stance on Arman Tsarukyan following his impressive performance at UFC 331 in Los Angeles. Tsarukyan extended his winning streak to six consecutive bouts and earned himself a spot as the top contender by knocking out Mauricio Ruffy in the first round. The UFC CEO praised Tsarukyan's return to the octagon, highlighting his ability to turn things around after past conflicts with White and the UFC.

Tensions arose between Tsarukyan and White when the latter pulled out of a lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev the night before weigh-ins. Earlier, Tsarukyan faced criticism from White for his scuffles with fans and other fighters. Despite these incidents, White acknowledged that Tsarukyan's relationship with the UFC had soured due to those events. However, he admitted that "The Batman" had turned his standing with the company around with a remarkable comeback.

White initially believed the fight would favor Ruffy, but Tsarukyan's elbow knockout in the first round left White astonished. He admitted that Tsarukyan had "incredible" performance in the latter part of the round, earning him Performance of the Night honors. Following the fight, White praised Tsarukyan's ability to perform at a high level after making mistakes in the past.