Arman Tsarukyan's patience has been rewarded; with the Armenian wrestler getting his long-awaited title shot against dominant champion Islam Makhachev in January 2025.
Considering the current 155-pound champion's wrestling credentials, it's safe to say the 22-3 Armenian's wrestling will have to be perfect if he wants to get his hand raised at UFC 311 – luckily he's got the lessons from fellow wrestler Khamzat Chimaev to fall back on.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Full footage of the wrestling match between Arman Tsarukyan and Khamzat Chimaev released
Earlier this year, UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and middleweight superstar Khamzat Chimaev took over as coaches for the new season of the Hype Fighting Championship reality show.
After months of snippets, full video footage of a wrestling match between Tsarukyan and Chimaev has finally been released online; with the two UFC stars going for a full six minutes.
Although Chimaev was able to dominate much of the match, in part due to having a significant height and weight advantage, Tsarukyan was able to hold his own and, crucially, avoid being submitted by the undefeated 'Borz'.
“The fight with Khamzat went at a good pace, I defended and didn't give him an opportunity to strangle me,” Tsarukyan said after the match ended in a hard-fought draw.
“With the size he is now, it was very difficult for me to move him or go behind his back. I didn't take any risks, I just stayed on the defensive and didn't let Khamzat get a grip.”
Tsarukyan would declare that Chimaev was the “toughest opponent” he had ever faced, before revealing that what impressed him most was his “sensitivity” to his takedown attempts.
“I'm just used to struggling with my weight, I don't work with those who are heavier because it's traumatic… [But this was] good experience… Sensitivity [is his advantage]he feels good when you go for a takedown – weight, physical strength and technique work well [too].”
Arman Tsarukyan fights for the UFC lightweight title on the first PPV of 2025
Chimaev is said to acknowledge that his size played a major role in Hype FC's wrestling match, but praised the efforts of 'Ahalkalakets' ahead of the lightweight title fight with Islam Makhachev.
“Arman is a very good wrestler, but I am 10 kg bigger than him, so it was difficult… Arman is at the highest level, he sees everything, feels everything, there is a technique [to everything he does],
“There are very good fighters in his weight class, Islam Makhachev is pound-for-pound number one and Arman is number one [contender] in his weight class. Now they can fight each other.”
That title fight is scheduled for UFC 311, which takes place in Los Angeles on January 18, 2025. It is unclear whether Chimaev will be in Tsarukyan's corner for that title fight, while Makhachev will have the expertise of former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in his ear .
In fact, it will be a very busy evening for coach Khabib, with cousin Umar Nurmagomedov also fighting for UFC gold in the co-main event against Merab Dvalishvili.
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