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Justin Gaethje misses fight after call from Donald Trump

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 26, 2026, 8:00 PM

Last updated Sep 26, 2026

Justin Gaethje misses fight after call from Donald Trump

Summary

Justin Gaethje could not watch the co-main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 due to a call from President Donald Trump. Gaethje intended to observe the fight to determine his next opponent but got distracted during the first round. Tsarukyan secured a victory against Ruffy with a knockout elbow late in the round, potentially earning a title shot. Gaethje later revealed he spoke with Trump about golf during the call and missed key moments of the fight.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Key Details

•Gaethje missed the first round of Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy.
•Tsarukyan won by knockout with four seconds remaining in round one.
•Gaethje received a call from President Trump during the fight.
•Both fighters aimed to position themselves for a title shot.

Latest Updates

8:00 PMYahoo Sports — Gaethje Missed Arman Vs. Ruffy Fight After Phone Call From Donald Trump

What they're saying

"
Justin Gaethje was expecting to watch Arman Tsarukyan’s co-main event clash with Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 to see who he might defend his UFC lightweight title against next, but that was before he received a call from President of the Unites States Donald Trump. Prior to UFC 331, fight fans were making a big […]
— Yahoo Sports

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