Arman Tsarukyan has ended 2025 by winning a belt, nevertheless it’s not the one he wanted.
The Armenian MMA fighter was presupposed to face Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title in January.
Arman Tsarukyan angered Dana White when he dropped out of their UFC 311 primary event on the last minute.
A back injury meant he was unable to compete. It also put him within the bad books of the UFC CEO, who has repeatedly insisted that his primary lightweight contender can have to earn one other shot at MMA’s best prize.
- LATEST NEWS: Arman Tsarukyan will try to get back on Dana White’s good side by taking over role at UFC 324
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Arman Tsarukyan wins BJJ title despite foul
Arman Tsarukyan was recently ignored when the UFC booked an interim lightweight title fight.
The 28-year-old recently beat Dan Hooker, but still got ignored for UFC 324 on January 24, which is able to see Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje clash for a secondary 155lb title.
Reasonably than sulking about his misfortune, Tsarukyan has channeled his energy into something positive.
On Wednesday, he became an ACBJJ champion with a last-gasp rear-naked choke submission win.
Tsarukyan tapped out Mehdi Baydulaev in the ultimate seconds of their 10-minute grappling match in Moscow, Russia.
In doing so, he captured the ACBJJ ‘All-Star Title’ and have become a champion away from MMA.
Nonetheless, Tsarukyan was almost disqualified for throwing a knee during a clinch exchange.
Baydulaev retaliated by kicking out on the UFC superstar, triggering a transient moment of chaos.
Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, and Tsarukyan vs Baydulaev was allowed to return to a natural conclusion.
Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 324 plan
Arman Tsarukyan will try to get back on Dana White’s good side by taking over a key role at UFC 324.
He’ll be able to weigh in and fight at a moment’s notice if Paddy Pimblett or Justin Gaethje fall out.
“There can be no rest because I’ll be a back-up fighter, not officially, but a back-up for the fight between Paddy and Gaethje,” Tsarukyan said ahead of his latest grappling match.
Was Arman Tsarukyan’s response to Paddy Pimblett’s UFC 324 title shot valid?
The Armenian star was ignored despite being the No. 1 contender, making weight because the UFC 317 backup, and submitting Dan Hooker for his fifth straight win.
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“If certainly one of them gets injured, I’ll be able to step in with every week’s notice, 10 days, even five days.
“I’ll be managing my weight, I won’t cut all of it on weigh-in day, but in the event that they need me, I’ll be there.
“Due to that, I even have to remain in shape, keep training, sparring, and take a look at to not get injured. I still have to provide one hundred pc to make fans blissful, so that they come to observe a fantastic, exciting fight.
“I’ll rest after the Pimblett vs Gaethje fight. We have now a difficult path ahead of us, and we’ve got to be ready in any respect times.”
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