Tsarukyan in a photo shoot. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/armantsarukyan
In combat sports, few athletes are willing to compete as much as Arman Tsarukyan . While the Armenian has been struggling to secure his long-awaited lightweight title fight (up to 70,3 kg) against Ilia Topuria , outside of the UFC, he has been frequently competing in grappling. Next Saturday (28), in Arizona (USA), the athlete will fight wrestling at RAF and already has two more targets for the sequence.
Recently, Tsarukyan was challenged by Mikey Musumeci, UFC BJJ bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg), to a grappling match and immediately responded. Undeterred by the jiu-jitsu star's skill, the second-ranked UFC lightweight, confident and eager to showcase his abilities, readily accepted.
"Tell your boss (Dana White and Hunter Campbell) to send me the contract," the fighter replied.
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Not satisfied, the athlete, aware that Zabit Magomedsharipov , once a UFC sensation, will return to fighting after seven years, offered to host him at ACBJJ. Upon seeing an Instagram page suggesting he face the Russian, Tsarukyan liked the idea so much that he shared the post on his Stories and asked his fans if they would like to see such a fight.
A busy 2025
Arman Tsarukyan disappointed fans and angered Dana White by withdrawing from his highly anticipated rematch against Islam Makhachev in January 2025, one day before it was scheduled to take place, citing a back injury. From then on, the Armenian fell out of favor with the UFC, becoming constantly ignored and criticized by the executive.
To stay active, the athlete threw himself into grappling, held five fights and stood out, winning against Ben Henderson , Makkasharip Zaynukov , Patricky Pitbull , Mehdi Baydulaev and drawing with Shara Magomedov . And the intense pace continues in 2026. In January, Arman passed Lance Palmer and, next Saturday (28), he faces Georgio Poullas.
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