Fighter portrait

Arman Tsarukyan

Lightweight
Orthodox
Record Record: 24-3-0
Wins
24
Losses
3
Draws
0
0KO/TKO
6Sub
8Dec
View full record ↓

Vitals

Height, reach, and career background.

Age
29
Height
5′7″1.70 m
Reach
72″184 cm
Stance StanceWhich side a fighter leads from — a striking term, not a religious one. Orthodox: right-handed, left foot and hand forward (the common default). Southpaw: the mirror image, right side forward (usually a left-hander). Switch: changes between the two during a fight.
Orthodox
Weight class
Lightweight
Nationality
Armenia
Team
Syndicate MMA - Las Vegas, NV
Active
2015–present

Record

Tap expandable fights for their breakdowns.

WinRecord after fight: 24-3-0KO
Opponent: Mauricio Ruffy, their record after the fight: 14-3-0elbowsR1 4:56

Ruffy landed a clean right hand early, prompting Tsarukyan to shift toward his wrestling and clinch work. Ruffy defended the initial takedown attempts and kept the fight standing, but Tsarukyan stayed attached along the fence. With the round nearly over, Tsarukyan landed a pair of hard elbows that put Ruffy out and secured the first-round knockout.

Key moments

  • Ruffy connected cleanly at the start and forced Tsarukyan to change the fight's terms.
  • Tsarukyan kept returning to the clinch after Ruffy defended the early takedown attempts.
  • Tsarukyan landed two quick elbows at 4:56 of round one for the knockout.

More fight videos

WinRecord after fight: 23-3-0SUB
Opponent: Dan Hooker, their record after the fight: 24-13-0arm-triangle chokeR2 3:34
UFC Qatar
22 Nov 2025

Arman Tsarukyan submitted Dan Hooker with an arm-triangle choke from mount at 3:34 of round two in the UFC Qatar main event.

Key moments

  • Tsarukyan secured the finish from mount after forcing the grappling exchanges against the fence and mat.
  • The arm-triangle was locked in during round two, ending the bout at 3:34.
  • The finish came before the bout reached the third round.
WinRecord after fight: 22-3-0DEC
Opponent: Charles Oliveira, their record after the fight: 34-10-0splitR3

Tsarukyan survived a tight guillotine from Oliveira in the opening round. He answered with sustained wrestling and control between Oliveira's submission threats. Oliveira threatened again late, but Tsarukyan received the split-decision verdict.

Key moments

  • Tsarukyan survived a tight guillotine from Oliveira in the opening round.
  • He answered with sustained wrestling and control between Oliveira's submission threats.
  • Oliveira threatened again late, but Tsarukyan received the split-decision verdict.

More fight videos

▶ Tsarukyan vs Oliveira — full fight Official UFC marathon replay; the UFC 300 full-fight segment starts at 34:44.
WinRecord after fight: 21-3-0KO
Opponent: Beneil DariushpunchesR1 1:04
UFC on ESPN 52
2 Dec 2023
WinRecord after fight: 20-3-0TKO
Opponent: Joaquim SilvapunchesR3 3:25
UFC on ESPN 47
17 Jun 2023

Silva hurt Tsarukyan after Tsarukyan had established his rhythm, but Tsarukyan recovered, caught a knee for a takedown, advanced to mount and finished with strikes late in the third round.

Key moments

  • Silva landed a left that hurt Tsarukyan after Tsarukyan had been controlling the fight.
  • Tsarukyan recovered and turned a caught knee into a takedown before advancing to mount.
  • Tsarukyan finished with strikes at 3:25 of round three.
WinRecord after fight: 19-3-0DEC
Opponent: Damir IsmagulovunanimousR3
UFC Fight Night
17 Dec 2022
LossRecord after fight: 18-3-0DEC
Opponent: Mateusz Gamrot, their record after the fight: 21-1-0unanimousR5
UFC on ESPN 38
25 Jun 2022
WinRecord after fight: 18-2-0TKO
Opponent: Joel Álvarez, their record after the fight: 19-3-0punchesR2 1:57
UFC Fight Night 202
26 Feb 2022

Tsarukyan opened a severe cut above Alvarez's eye with a precise elbow during a first-round grappling exchange, then worked the damage relentlessly into round two before the referee stopped it at 1:57.

Key moments

  • Landed a perfectly placed elbow from guard that opened a deep cut on Alvarez's forehead in round one.
  • Continued attacking the cut with ground-and-pound into round two to force the stoppage.
  • Earned a Performance of the Night bonus for the second consecutive fight.
  • Used the post-fight mic to publicly call out Islam Makhachev to avenge his 2019 loss.
WinRecord after fight: 17-2-0TKO
Opponent: Christos GiagospunchesR1 2:09
UFC Fight Night 192
18 Sep 2021

Tsarukyan waited for his moment and landed a clean left hook that dropped Giagos, then swarmed with ground punches to force the stoppage at 2:09 of round one. The first-round TKO earned him a Performance of the Night bonus and was his fourth consecutive UFC win.

Key moments

  • Dropped Giagos with a well-timed left hook in the opening round.
  • Followed up with ground punches to earn the TKO stoppage from referee Herb Dean.
  • Earned Performance of the Night for the finish.
  • Fourth straight UFC win, cementing his push up the lightweight rankings.
WinRecord after fight: 16-2-0DEC
Opponent: Matt FrevolaunanimousR3
UFC 257
23 Jan 2021

In a last-minute booking on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, Tsarukyan dominated Frevola with relentless wrestling, landing 10 of 12 takedown attempts and out-striking him 50-16 for a 30-27, 30-27, 30-26 sweep. Frevola had his moments — briefly stunning Tsarukyan in round one and threatening a guillotine in round three — but Tsarukyan's volume and control were decisive.

Key moments

  • Stepped in as a late replacement after multiple opponent changes disrupted the booking.
  • Landed 10 of 12 takedown attempts across three rounds, controlling the bulk of the fight on the mat.
  • Frevola briefly stunned Tsarukyan in round one, but Tsarukyan shook it off and kept pressing.
  • Swept all three judges' cards for his third consecutive UFC victory.
WinRecord after fight: 15-2-0DEC
Opponent: Davi RamosunanimousR3
UFC Fight Night 172
18 Jul 2020

On UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, Tsarukyan neutralised the submission threat of jiu-jitsu specialist Davi Ramos with sharp footwork and leg kicks before taking him down in rounds two and three. A right hand knockdown in the third round punctuated a 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 unanimous decision win.

Key moments

  • Used speed and leg kicks to defuse Ramos's submission-heavy game in round one.
  • Controlled the fight on the mat in rounds two and three with takedowns and top pressure.
  • Knocked Ramos down with a right hand in the third round.
  • Won the unanimous decision to post his second straight UFC victory.
WinRecord after fight: 14-2-0DEC
Opponent: Olivier Aubin-MercierunanimousR3
UFC 240
27 Jul 2019

In his second UFC outing — and first win in the promotion — Tsarukyan rallied against a strong Aubin-Mercier performance that featured jarring knees in the early going. He locked down a takedown in the final round and kept Aubin-Mercier grounded until the horn, earning three 29-28 cards in front of the Canadian's home crowd in Edmonton.

Key moments

  • First UFC victory, coming three months after his debut loss to Islam Makhachev.
  • Aubin-Mercier connected with sharp knees and controlled the striking in round two.
  • A decisive takedown and ground control in round three was the winning move.
  • Won all three judges' cards 29-28 in Aubin-Mercier's home venue in Edmonton, Alberta.
LossRecord after fight: 13-2-0DEC
Opponent: Islam Makhachev, their record after the fight: 17-1-0unanimousR3

Tsarukyan initiated the clinch and first takedown, then worked free after Makhachev answered with a foot sweep and mount. Tsarukyan remained patient after working free and continued to go shot-for-shot with Makhachev in the opening exchanges. Makhachev pulled away in the final round by pushing a relentless pace and swarming Tsarukyan to secure the decision.

Key moments

  • Tsarukyan initiated the clinch and first takedown before Makhachev answered with a foot sweep and mount.
  • Tsarukyan worked free and continued to go shot-for-shot with Makhachev in the opening exchanges.
  • Makhachev pushed a relentless pace and swarmed Tsarukyan in the final round to secure the decision.

More fight videos

WinRecord after fight: 13-1-0KO
Opponent: Felipe Olivierihead kickR3 1:25
S-70: Plotforma Cup 2018
22 Aug 2018
WinRecord after fight: 12-1-0DEC
Opponent: Junior AssuncaounanimousR3
MFP 220: Mayor's Cup 2018
26 May 2018
WinRecord after fight: 11-1-0TKO
Opponent: Haotian Wubody kick and punchesR3 0:31
Gods of War World MMA Championship
24 Mar 2018
WinRecord after fight: 10-1-0DEC
Opponent: Takenori SatounanimousR3
MFP 214: Eastern Frontier
2 Dec 2017

Tsarukyan captured the MFP lightweight championship by outpointing Takenori Sato in a competitive 15-minute headliner in Khabarovsk, Russia. He threatened with takedowns and near-submissions throughout, nearly finishing with a rear-naked choke early before Sato survived a tight kimura threat in round two to reach the final bell.

Key moments

  • Won the MFP Lightweight Championship title in the main event of MFP 214.
  • Nearly finished Sato with a rear-naked choke inside the first five minutes.
  • Sato threatened with a kimura in round two before Tsarukyan secured the decision.
  • Championship win at the Platinum Arena in Khabarovsk ahead of his Road FC outing.
WinRecord after fight: 9-1-0DEC
Opponent: Kyung Pyo KimunanimousR3
Road FC 43
28 Oct 2017
WinRecord after fight: 8-1-0SUB
Opponent: Marcio Brenorear-naked chokeR1 2:54
S-70: Plotforma Cup 2017
8 Aug 2017
WinRecord after fight: 7-1-0SUB
Opponent: Nizamuddin Ramazanovrear-naked chokeR1 2:31
MFP/WSOF Global
13 May 2017
WinRecord after fight: 6-1-0SUB
Opponent: Gustavo Wurlitzerrear-naked chokeR1 1:58
Octagon Fighting Sensation 11
4 Mar 2017
WinRecord after fight: 5-1-0SUB
Opponent: Alexander Belikhguillotine chokeR1 2:51
MFP: Eastern Rubicon 2
10 Dec 2016
WinRecord after fight: 4-1-0TKO
Opponent: Dmitriy ShkrabiypunchesR1 2:23
MFP 204: Cup of Vladivostok 2016
5 Nov 2016
WinRecord after fight: 3-1-0SUB
Opponent: Alexander Merezhkoanaconda chokeR2 1:28
MFP: Governor's Pankration Cup 2016
21 Oct 2016
WinRecord after fight: 2-1-0KO
Opponent: Ali KhaibulaevpunchR1 0:33
MFP: Cup of Administration in Modern Pankration
6 May 2016
LossRecord after fight: 1-1-0KO
Opponent: Alexander BelikhpunchR1 0:30
MFP: Eastern Rubicon
12 Dec 2015
WinRecord after fight: 1-0-0TKO
Opponent: Shamil OlokhanovpunchesR1 2:47
MFP: Assault Nights of Spassk 2015
25 Sep 2015

Tsarukyan made his professional MMA debut with a first-round TKO win over Shamil Olokhanov at MFP: Assault Nights of Spassk 2015 in Spassk-Dalny, Russia. Both men were making their professional debuts; Tsarukyan's wrestling-based pressure was too much for Olokhanov to handle.

Key moments

  • Professional MMA debut at Spassk Sports Center in Spassk-Dalny, Russia.
  • Both Tsarukyan and Olokhanov were making their professional debuts.
  • First-round TKO by punches at 2:47 set the pattern for his finishing style.

The Read

Style, strengths, and defining traits.

Arman Tsarukyan played hockey for six years before taking up MMA. His combat-sports background includes a pankration world championship, amateur wrestling and grappling tournament victories, and Master of Sports credentials in both wrestling and MMA.

Signature Fights

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Source unavailable The debut — Makhachev at UFC Fight Night 149 Playback is not enabled until a verified source is available. Tsarukyan's UFC debut against the future champion. The first fighter to take Makhachev down in the UFC, in a Fight of the Night performance.

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Interviews & Media

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