Arman Tsarukyan almost starred in an unusual confrontation outside the octagon. One of the top contenders for the UFC lightweight title, the Armenian nearly shared the mat with none other than Tom Hardy, the Hollywood star known for films like Venom and Mad Max.
According to the North American website Bloody Elbow, Tsarukyan was offered the opportunity to face Hardy in a grappling match scheduled for December 30, 2025. The invitation came from the Hype Fighting organization, but it ultimately did not materialize due to the actor's professional commitments.
"Few people know, but a potential opponent for Arman on December 30th could have been one of the most popular actors of our time, Tom Hardy, a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, due to filming a movie until March, he was unable to accept," the organization reported.
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Leaked message and behind-the-scenes details of the negotiation.
The information gained even more traction after a screenshot was posted on the Matysek88 profile on X (formerly Twitter). The image shows part of Tom Hardy's response to Armand Martirosyan, CEO of Hype Fighting, after receiving the offer.
Tom Hardy was offered a grappling match against Arman Tsarukyan on December 30 but had to decline because he was busy filming. LOL. Arman ended up facing Shara Bullet instead pic.twitter.com/pjosw7KH5m
— Matysek (@Matysek88) January 3, 2026
Although most of the message is hidden, it's possible to see the actor thanking them for the offer, which, according to him, involved a sum of money above the standard paid at grappling events. Hardy then cites his film commitments as the reason for his refusal.
Known for taking Jiu-Jitsu seriously, Tom Hardy has trained alongside professional fighters, including UFC athlete Lone'er Kavanagh , and regularly participates in tournaments of the sport, far from the Hollywood spotlight.
Tom Hardy's refusal opens the door for a duel between Arman Tsarukyan and 'Pirate' on Hype FC.
Shara Magomedov is scheduled to fight in Saudi Arabia in February 2025 / Instagram screenshot
With the star's refusal, the organization needed a plan B. Thus, Arman Tsarukyan ended up facing Shara Magomedov , the "Pirate" of the UFC, at the Hype FC event, held in Armenia, also on December 30th.
The fight ended in a draw, concluding a curious chapter in Tsarukyan's career, who remains focused on his main goal: to become UFC champion.
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