The final outcome on Arman Tsarukyan’s potential prowess in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight division is hotly debated among fans. The fighter, nicknamed “Ahalkalakets,” boasts an impressive record of 20-3 as he heads into his UFC on ESPN 52 main event. Tsarukyan will battle Beneil Dariush, a veteran from Kings MMA, this coming Saturday at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Fresh from back-to-back victories and with an enviable achievement of seven wins in his last eight fights, Tsarukyan’s momentum seems unstoppable. His most recent achievement was at the UFC on ESPN 47 where he overwhelmingly defeated Joaquim Silva with an outpour of punches, marking the end of the match in the third round.
Tsarukyan has been assiduously preparing for his impending clash with Dariush at 155 pounds. His career to date has been defined by a series of rivalries that have helped shape him into the fighter he is today. One of his most impactful rivals has been Russian fighter Islam Makhachev. Makhachev paved his way towards the top of the lightweight division by securing a unanimous win over Tsarukyan in 2019. This victory, along with Makhachev’s experience and polished skills, allowed him to take the undisputed UFC lightweight championship.
Tsarukyan’s stock continued to rise thanks to an unexpected win against Olivier Aubin-Mercier, a finalist in “The Ultimate Fighter Nations.” Tsarukyan’s surprising tactics had Aubin-Mercier on guard, causing him to lose the UFC 240 lightweight showcase. Despite a well-timed knee strike that almost tipped the scales, Aubin-Mercier was unable to follow up effectively and lost to Tsarukyan’s ground-and-pound tactics in Round 3. A strong judoka and an intimidating 155-pound candidate, Tsarukyan managed the win with his skillfully-placed elbows and standing-to-ground punches.
Tsarukyan’s skill extend to his match against Matt Frevola, where he paired repeated takedowns and positional advances with ground-and-pound tactics. He comfortably conquered the UFC 257 prelims at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, outperforming Frevola in both talent and technique. Frevola was left in the dust as Tsarukyan held ground on the feet, in the clinch, and came out leading by a 103-51 margin.
Tsarukyan met tough competition, former two-division KSW champion Mateusz Gamrot. In a heart-pounding match on June 25, 2022, Gamrot outperformed Tsarukyan at the UFC on ESPN 38 headliner in Las Vegas. Tsarukyan’s robust kicking game and defensive takedowns helped him maintain a strong start. But Gamrot’s relentless approach and grappling proved too taxing in the long haul, leading to Tsarukyan’s defeat. Despite the lack of glamour in Gamrot’s win, his effectiveness in the ring remains unquestionable.