Arman Tsarukyan
Ahalkalakets
Armenia
Next title challenger?
Tsarukyan defeated Dan Hooker via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:34 of Round 2 at UFC Qatar on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Tsarukyan entered this fight as a betting favorite of as much as (-900), and he certainly looked the part with a clinical effort. He logged a takedown and 3:16 worth of control time in the opening frame while also winning the significant striking battle 19-to-5. Round 2 saw him eat a notable right hook, but he shook it off and went for a takedown that Hooker had little hope of defending. Tsarukyan softened his opponent up with a few elbows before passing into three-quarter mount and eventually finding the fight-ending choke. He would go on to win a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus here, but more importantly is what's next. Tsarukyan likely has the best case for the next shot at lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, but it remains to be seen if the UFC will book that fight, or go with the more marketable Paddy Pimblett in early-2026.
Tsarukyan entered this fight as a betting favorite of as much as (-900), and he certainly looked the part with a clinical effort. He logged a takedown and 3:16 worth of control time in the opening frame while also winning the significant striking battle 19-to-5. Round 2 saw him eat a notable right hook, but he shook it off and went for a takedown that Hooker had little hope of defending. Tsarukyan softened his opponent up with a few elbows before passing into three-quarter mount and eventually finding the fight-ending choke. He would go on to win a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus here, but more importantly is what's next. Tsarukyan likely has the best case for the next shot at lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, but it remains to be seen if the UFC will book that fight, or go with the more marketable Paddy Pimblett in early-2026.
Fight Log
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Headlining UFC Qatar
Tsarukyan will take on Dan Hooker in a lightweight bout at UFC Qatar on Nov. 22, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Tsarukyan has won his last four UFC bouts and has earned a spot in the main event at UFC Qatar in late November. In his most recent UFC bout, he took care of business against Charles Oliveira via split decision back in April of 2024. He'll look to push his already sparkling UFC record 10-2 with a win.
Tsarukyan has won his last four UFC bouts and has earned a spot in the main event at UFC Qatar in late November. In his most recent UFC bout, he took care of business against Charles Oliveira via split decision back in April of 2024. He'll look to push his already sparkling UFC record 10-2 with a win.
Drops out of title fight
Tsarukyan (back) has dropped out of Saturday's bout against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311, UFC President Dana White reports.
ANALYSIS
Tsarukyan has informed Dana White that he will not be able to take on Islam Makhachev for a chance at the UFC Lightweight Title after suffering a back injury. The 28-year-old Armenian fighter will be Renato Moicano in a last-minute switch up on the main card at UFC 311.
Tsarukyan has informed Dana White that he will not be able to take on Islam Makhachev for a chance at the UFC Lightweight Title after suffering a back injury. The 28-year-old Armenian fighter will be Renato Moicano in a last-minute switch up on the main card at UFC 311.
Gets shot at title
Tsarukyan will fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 on Jan. 18, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Tsarukyan lost to Makhachev in the former's UFC debut back in April of 2019. More than five years later, he'll now get his shot at revenge and have a chance to claim the lightweight title in the process. Tsarukyan has been held out of action since April due to a suspension that came as a result of an altercation with a fan, but his opponent will also be fighting for the first time since suffering a hand injury in July.
Tsarukyan lost to Makhachev in the former's UFC debut back in April of 2019. More than five years later, he'll now get his shot at revenge and have a chance to claim the lightweight title in the process. Tsarukyan has been held out of action since April due to a suspension that came as a result of an altercation with a fan, but his opponent will also be fighting for the first time since suffering a hand injury in July.
Fined and suspended
Tsarukyan has been fined $25,000 and suspended nine months retroactive to UFC 300, per Nolan King of MMA Junkie.
ANALYSIS
Back at UFC 300, while walking to the octagon for his scheduled fight and eventual win against Charles Oliveira, Tsarukyan got into an altercation with a fan, resulting in his recent fine and suspension. He can get the latter reduced to six months if willing to produce a video for an anti-bullying campaign. The suspension puts into question how long it will take for Tsarukyan to get his shot at UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev, who recently defended his championship against Dustin Poirier.
Back at UFC 300, while walking to the octagon for his scheduled fight and eventual win against Charles Oliveira, Tsarukyan got into an altercation with a fan, resulting in his recent fine and suspension. He can get the latter reduced to six months if willing to produce a video for an anti-bullying campaign. The suspension puts into question how long it will take for Tsarukyan to get his shot at UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev, who recently defended his championship against Dustin Poirier.
Statement win over Charles Oliveira
Tsarukyan defeated Charles Oliveira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) at UFC 300 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
There were some extremely hairy moments along the way, but it was another standout performance from Tsarukyan against a guy that has been among the best the lightweight division has to offer for seemingly ever. Arman was in control for nearly the entire fight. He used his grappling game to ground Charles and dominated from top position, landing some crushing elbows. That's the good news. The bad news was that Tsarukyan had to survive a pair of extremely deep choke attempts, including a guillotine in the opening moments of the bout that would have easily finished any mere mortal. Instead, Tsarukyan earns his fourth straight victory and ninth in his last ten bouts. A rematch with UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev -- who took a unanimous decision from Arman in his UFC debut back in April 2019 -- could be in play later in 2024, though Dana White did announce after the fight that Makhachev's next opponent would be Dustin Poirier.
There were some extremely hairy moments along the way, but it was another standout performance from Tsarukyan against a guy that has been among the best the lightweight division has to offer for seemingly ever. Arman was in control for nearly the entire fight. He used his grappling game to ground Charles and dominated from top position, landing some crushing elbows. That's the good news. The bad news was that Tsarukyan had to survive a pair of extremely deep choke attempts, including a guillotine in the opening moments of the bout that would have easily finished any mere mortal. Instead, Tsarukyan earns his fourth straight victory and ninth in his last ten bouts. A rematch with UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev -- who took a unanimous decision from Arman in his UFC debut back in April 2019 -- could be in play later in 2024, though Dana White did announce after the fight that Makhachev's next opponent would be Dustin Poirier.