Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan (Արման Նաիրիի Ծառուկյան; born October 11, 1996) is an Armenian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Lightweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of April 16, 2024, he is #1 in the UFC lightweight rankings.

Background
Tsarukyan was born into an Armenian family living in a small town in Georgia, near the Armenian border. Arman's father, Nairi Tsarukyan, is a businessman, engaged in the construction business. Arman is the middle child with an older brother and a younger sister. The family moved to Russia when Arman was three years old to pursue better opportunities in life.

In his youth, Tsarukyan had multiple sporting interests. He started freestyle wrestling and fared well in the sport, but got interested in ice hockey later and continued playing it for ten years. He even used to play for the junior team of Hockey Club Amur. However, when Arman was approaching adulthood, he was forced to stop hockey in order to aid his father working in construction.

Early career
Tsarukyan made his professional debut in mixed martial arts in 2015 against Shamil Olokhanov and won by technical knockout in the first round. He lost his next fight against Alexander Belikh by first-round knockout. Arman continued fighting for mixed martial arts promotions in Russia and Asia, winning his next 12 fights with 9 finishes, including a first round submission victory against Belikh to avenge his first loss. He compiled a 13–1 record prior to signing a four-fight contract with the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Tsarukyan made his UFC debut against future lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, on April 20, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik. It was a fast-paced fight with high level wrestling exchanges. Even though Tsarukyan lost via a unanimous decision that fight was considered to be the toughest test in Makhachev’s career. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night bonus.

Tsarukyan faced Olivier Aubin-Mercier on July 27, 2019 at UFC 240 and won the fight via unanimous decision.

Tsarukyan was expected to face Davi Ramos on April 11, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed. The bout eventually moved to UFC Fight Night 172 on July 19, 2020. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Tsarukyan was expected to face Nasrat Haqparast on January 24, 2021 at UFC 257. However, on the day of the weigh ins, Haqparast pulled out of the fight citing an illness. As a result, the promotion negotiated a matchup between Tsarukyan and Matt Frevola. Subsequently, Tsarukyan forfeited 20% of his purse as a result of missing weight, which went to Frevola. Tsarukyan won the fight via unanimous decision.

Tsarukyan faced Christos Giagos on September 18, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 192. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Tsarukyan faced Joel Álvarez on February 26, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 202. He won the bout via ground and pound TKO in the second round. The win also earned Tsarukyan his second consecutive Performance of the Night bonus award.

Tsarukyan faced Mateusz Gamrot on June 25, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 38. He lost the closely contested fight via unanimous decision. 15 of 22 MMA media outlets scored the bout in favor of Tsarukyan. Both fighters earned the Fight of the Night award.

As the first bout of his new, four-fight contract, Tsarukyan faced Damir Ismagulov on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 216. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Tsarukyan was scheduled to face Renato Moicano on April 29, 2023, at UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón. However, Moicano withdrew due to an injury and Tsarukyan was pulled from the card as well.

Tsarukyan faced Joaquim Silva on June 17, 2023 at UFC on ESPN 47. He won the bout via TKO in the third round.

Tsarukyan faced Beneil Dariush on December 2, 2023, in the main event at UFC on ESPN 52. In a mere 64 seconds he won this fight by first-round knockout due to a knee to the head followed by punches. The fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.



Tsarukyan faced former UFC Lightweight champion Charles Oliveira on April 13, 2024 at UFC 300. He won the bout by split decision after surviving multiple submission attempts from Oliveira.

Grappling career
Tsarukyan won the expert middleweight division of NAGA Los Angeles on October 1, 2023, submitting all three of his opponents.

Personal life
On April 19, 2019, Arman married his wife Milena, and at the beginning of 2020 he became a father to his daughter, whom he named after his mother. In 2022, his second daughter was born.

Altercation at UFC 300
Before fighting Charles Oliveira at UFC 300, Tsarukyan appeared to strike a fan while walking to the octagon. Dana White said after UFC 300 that he was concerned the company would face legal action from the involved fan. However, Tsarukyan and UFC did not face any legal action. Nevertheless, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) met with Tsarukyan on April 30, 2024, to discuss the incident. They decided to withhold 20% of his fight purse ($31,600 of $158,000).

On June 25, 2024, it was announced that Tsaryukan was fined $25,000 and banned from competition for nine months, making him eligible to compete on January 12, 2025 unless he does an NSAC-approved anti-bullying public service announcement, which would reduce the suspension to six months, making him eligible to compete on October 12, 2024.

Mixed martial arts

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Fight of the Night (Two Times) vs. Islam Makhachev and Mateusz Gamrot
 * Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Christos Giagos, Joel Álvarez and Beneil Dariush