Arman Tsarukyan, the surging UFC lightweight contender, has been making waves far beyond the octagon in early 2026. In a whirlwind stretch of days filled with grappling challenges, wrestling domination, and headline-grabbing callouts, Tsarukyan’s name has become synonymous with both competitive ambition and controversy. His recent exploits—from streaming showdowns with internet influencers to his emphatic victory at the Real American Freestyle 5 (RAF05) tournament—have only intensified the spotlight on one of MMA’s most intriguing talents.
It all began on January 10, 2026, when Tsarukyan found himself at Adin Ross’s Miami warehouse, surrounded by a colorful cast of internet personalities. Among them were Ross’s friend ‘Sweater God’ and the notorious MMA Guru, real name Kyle Mee. The scene was set for a unique grappling challenge, streamed live for thousands of viewers. The rules? If either Sweater God or MMA Guru—both considerably heavier than Tsarukyan—could land a takedown or even get to his legs, Tsarukyan would lose the payout promised by Ross. Stakes were high: $20,000 was wagered on Sweater God, and when that failed, Ross doubled down for MMA Guru’s attempt. Neither influencer came close.
Tsarukyan later revealed, “No, yesterday I made 40K for one minute just to slam a couple of fat guys… I’m making money every day.” According to his own account, he pocketed a cool $40,000 for the brief but entertaining session, proving that his grappling prowess is as lucrative as it is formidable. UFC fans already know Tsarukyan as a relentless wrestler, averaging over three takedowns per fight and boasting a 75 percent takedown defense. But this display against non-professionals was more spectacle than sport—still, it set the tone for what was to come.
The very next night, Tsarukyan stepped into a much more serious arena: the RAF05 freestyle wrestling event in Sunrise, Florida. There, he faced off against Lance Palmer, a seasoned American wrestler and two-time Professional Fighters League tournament winner. The result? A resounding 10-0 decision in favor of Tsarukyan. The Armenian fighter’s dominance was never in doubt as he shut out Palmer, a feat that underscored his adaptability and technical excellence on the mats. At just 29 years old, Tsarukyan added this victory to an already impressive résumé, which includes a professional MMA record of 23 wins and only 3 losses. He currently sits at 14th in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, a testament to his growing reputation among the sport’s elite.
But Tsarukyan isn’t content to rest on his laurels. After his win at RAF05, he made it clear that he’s hungry for more challenges in the world of wrestling, not just MMA. In a post-fight scrum, he told MMA Junkie, “I want to do more RAF, grappling, so let’s see what they offer. I would like to wrestle because grappling is still dangerous for us, but in freestyle wrestling there is no chokes or submissions. It’s difficult to get hurt here. I see Michael Chandler is calling out somebody. He was running out in the UFC, but maybe here he’s not going to be a little girl like always, and he’s going to take a wrestling match with me. Back home, he’s a wrestler. I’m not a wrestler. I’m an MMA fighter. Yeah, I wrestle a lot, but still—maybe here he has a little bit of chance to beat me because in UFC, he has zero chance.”
Tsarukyan’s sights are set on Michael Chandler, another top UFC lightweight and a former collegiate wrestling standout. The Armenian is eager to test himself against Chandler on the wrestling mats, believing that the absence of submissions or chokes levels the playing field. “Next one I would like to have an MMA fighter, who has a background in wrestling, get more experience, and then wrestle with the real wrestlers because we’re still not on the same level,” Tsarukyan explained. He even mentioned world-class competitors like Kyle Drake as future targets, demonstrating his desire to climb the ranks in freestyle wrestling just as he has in MMA.
Meanwhile, Tsarukyan’s ambitions in the UFC lightweight division remain complicated. Despite being the No. 1 contender at 155 pounds, he was bypassed for the upcoming interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324. Instead, Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje—ranked fifth and fourth respectively—will square off for the interim belt on January 24, 2026. The decision to overlook Tsarukyan has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike. According to Tsarukyan, the UFC “wants to make” Pimblett champion, leveraging the Liverpudlian’s star power for commercial gain. “They know if they’re going to put me against him, he’s going to lose and the star is going to be gone,” Tsarukyan said after his wrestling win. “Gaethje is easy money for him. He’s old, he has maybe one or two fights left. So that’s why they give him the interim title shot because he’s not going to be a real champion, because there’s Ilia Topuria, and I never think he can beat Ilia Topuria.”
UFC President Dana White has offered his own reasoning, citing Tsarukyan’s infamous headbutting incident at a weigh-in before his last UFC victory as a contributing factor in the decision. Additionally, Tsarukyan previously withdrew from a title fight with Islam Makhachev in January 2025 due to injury. The current lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, is on a break for personal reasons, making the interim title fight even more significant for the division’s future.
Tsarukyan hasn’t hidden his preferences for the interim title outcome. He’s openly rooting for Justin Gaethje, believing the American will offer him the most merit-based path to a title shot. “I hope that Justin Gaethje is going to knock him out,” Tsarukyan stated bluntly. He’s skeptical that Pimblett, should he win, would ever agree to fight him, suggesting that Pimblett’s celebrity status might allow him to avoid dangerous contenders in favor of bigger paydays. Michael Chandler, Tsarukyan’s potential wrestling opponent, also supports Gaethje, citing his experience and toughness as separating factors from Pimblett.
Outside of UFC and RAF, Tsarukyan’s schedule has been packed. In December 2025, he was offered a high-profile grappling match against Hollywood star Tom Hardy at HYPE Fighting in Armenia. Unfortunately, Hardy had to decline due to filming commitments, but Tsarukyan remains hopeful for a future showdown. “Yes, I got that offer, but he couldn’t come because he was filming. Maybe in the future,” he told Helen Yee. Instead, Tsarukyan battled UFC middleweight Sharabutdin Magomedov to a draw at HYPE Fighting, further showcasing his willingness to compete across disciplines whenever possible.
With a record of relentless competition, outspoken ambition, and a knack for making headlines in and out of the cage, Arman Tsarukyan is a fighter who refuses to be sidelined. Whether he’s grappling influencers for five-figure paydays, dominating wrestling tournaments, or calling out the UFC’s biggest names, Tsarukyan’s journey is anything but ordinary. As the lightweight division braces for its next chapter and the wrestling world keeps an eye on his next move, one thing’s for sure: Tsarukyan won’t be waiting quietly on the sidelines.
