Background and career
Arman Nairovich Tsarukyan (Armenian: Արման Նաիրիի Ծառուկյան, Russian: Арман Наирович Царукян; IPA: [/ɐrˈman nɐjˈrovʲɪtɕ tsɐrʊˈkʲan/], born October 11, 1996) is an Armenian and Russian professional mixed martial artist, submission grappler, and freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of January 27, 2026, he is #2 in the Meta UFC lightweight rankings and as of September 22, 2026, he is #13 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.
Tsarukyan was born into an Armenian family in Akhalkalaki, 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, eventually settling in Khabarovsk. 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 several years. He played 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. In a Q&A on UFC.com, Tsarukyan said he played ice hockey for six years before starting MMA. During his wrestling career, he attained the rank of Master of Sports. Before turning professional, he also earned a second Master of Sports rank in mixed martial arts. While playing hockey, he had harbored aspirations of reaching the National Hockey League (NHL), but later cited disillusionment with perceived corruption within the Russian junior hockey system as a significant factor in his departure from the sport. In a Q&A on UFC.com, Tsarukyan said he won multiple wrestling and grappling tournaments in amateur competition.
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. In July 2018, Tsarukyan was one of the winners of the 2018 Tiger Muay Thai Tryouts in Phuket, earning a place on the professional fight team.
Tsarukyan made his UFC debut against future lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, on April 20, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 149. The bout featured frequent wrestling exchanges and a high pace. Tsarukyan lost via unanimous decision, and the fight was regarded by some media outlets as one of Makhachev's tougher early-career tests. 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 postponed. The bout was rescheduled for 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. The promotion negotiated a matchup between Tsarukyan and Matt Frevola. Tsarukyan forfeited 20% of his purse after 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 45. 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. He won the fight in 64 seconds 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. 21 of 29 MMA media outlets scored the bout in favor of Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan claimed Mike Bell, the judge who scored the fight for Oliveira, later admitted he made a mistake and apologized to him over a phone call with Tsarukyan’s coach.
While walking to the octagon at UFC 300, Tsarukyan threw a punch at a fan who flipped him off. The fan later apologized for provoking Tsarukyan and said wouldn't pursue legal action. On June 25, 2024, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) fined Tsarukyan $25,000 and banned him from competition for nine months, making him ineligible to compete until January 12, 2025, unless he completed 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. After UFC lightweight champion Makhachev suffered a hand injury and was unable to make a late 2024 return, Tsarukyan decided not to do the anti-bullying PSA. Tsarukyan was scheduled to face Islam Makhachev in a rematch and for the UFC Lightweight Championship on January 18, 2025, at UFC 311. However, Tsarukyan pulled out due to a sciatic nerve back injury during a sparring session. He was replaced by Renato Moicano. Tsarukyan successfully weighed in on June 27, 2025, as the backup for the lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Tsarukyan faced Dan Hooker in the main event on November 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 265. He won the fight via an arm-triangle choke submission in the second round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award. In November 2025, after lightweight champion Ilia Topuria announced he would take time away from competition for personal reasons, the UFC booked an interim lightweight title bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett for UFC 324. White said Tsarukyan would need to work his way back to a title shot and said he did not care about Tsarukyan’s ranking position when discussing the matchmaking decision. The booking drew criticism from fighters and media. Former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev said Tsarukyan should have gotten the title shot and questioned the promotion’s matchmaking. UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier argued that a matchup between Topuria and Tsarukyan was necessary to settle the division’s top spot. Journalist Ariel Helwani also criticized the decision publicly. Tsarukyan was reportedly set to challenge for the UFC "BMF" title in a rematch against Charles Oliveira on September 19, 2026 at UFC 331. However, the bout was changed to a non-title five-round bout instead. After Oliveira withdrew to mourn the death of his teammate Allan Nascimento, the promotion announced that Tsarukyan would instead face Maurício Ruffy. Tsarukyan defeated Ruffy by knockout via elbows in the first round. This fight earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night award.
As a grappler, Tsarukyan competes in ACBJJ , where he is the inaugural holder of the ACBJJ "All Star" title. Tsarukyan won the expert middleweight division of NAGA Los Angeles on October 1, 2023, submitting all three of his opponents. Tsarukyan defeated Makkasharip Zaynukov via unanimous decision at Pit Submission Series 12, held as part of Karate Combat 54, on May 2, 2025. Tsarukyan faced Patricky "Pitbull" Freire in the main event of ADXC 10 on May 31, 2025. He won the match by submission with a rear-naked choke. Tsarukyan faced former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson at ACBJJ 18 in Moscow on September 19, 2025, and won after putting Henderson unconscious with an arm-triangle choke; the official result was ruled a technical decision. Tsarukyan defeated Mehdi Baydulaev via submission with a rear-naked choke in the final minute of their main event grappling match at ACBJJ 20 on December 17, 2025, in Moscow. He won the "All-Star Title" in this no-gi jiu-jitsu contest, where Baydulaev served as a last-minute replacement. Tsarukyan faced Sharabutdin Magomedov in a submission-only grappling match at Hype Fighting Championship on December 30, 2025, in Yerevan, Armenia. The match ended in a draw and neither man won the title. Tsarukyan was scheduled to rematch Georgio Poullas in a submission-only grappling match at Hype Brazil on March 11, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Poullas later withdrew from the bout, and it was removed from the event lineup. Muhammad Mokaev then stepped in to replace Poullas on two days’ notice. Arman won the bout via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 7:46 of the first round after rendering Mokaev unconscious.
