Tag: Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan: If I didn’t finish Joaquim Silva at UFC on ESPN 46, ‘nobody gonna talk about me’

Arman Tsarukyan knew he had to finish Joaquim Silva at UFC on ESPN 46.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] knew he had to finish Joaquim Silva at UFC on ESPN 46.

Tsarukyan (20-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) stopped Silva (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) by Round 3 TKO this past Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He was a massive favorite heading into the fight.

Tsarukyan was well aware of the risk of fighting unranked Silva, but couldn’t get anyone to accept the matchup with him. It was mostly a dominant performance for Tsarukyan, but things almost turned south for him when he was stunned in Round 2. That’s when he felt the pressure of putting him away.

“I (made) some mistakes, but I’m so happy I finished him because if I didn’t finish him, nobody (was) going to talk about me,” Tsarukyan told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at UFC on ESPN 46. “That’s why I went forward like pressure, pressure, non-stop working. I wanted to make him tired (in the) first round and knock him out second round. It was the game plan.

“We have been working so much for this. It was our good game plan with my coaches, but he was super tough. I couldn’t stop him in the second round, and I said, ‘No way – this is the third round, and it just started. I’ve got to do something. I’ve got to go forward. F*ck it, Arman. Let’s go, because you won a decision against Damir Ismagulov.'”

Tsarukyan, who expressed interest in fighting Beneil Dariush or Michael Chandler next, hopes to get a boost in the lightweight standings despite beating an unranked opponent. He thinks the media never gave him credit for snapping the win streak of Damir Ismagulov.

“Damir Ismagulov is one of the best fighters in our division,” Tsarukyan continued. “I (beat him with a) decision – you guys don’t even say good words to me. I beat him three rounds, super easy, and I stayed in the same position. It’s so disrespectful. This fight, I think they’ve got to put me in the top five because I deserve it.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 46.

4 biggest takeaways from UFC on ESPN 46: Is Arman Tsarukyan’s callout a reality check for Michael Chandler?

Why Arman Tsarukyan’s callout is a reality check for Michael Chandler, how Jared Cannonier is stuck and more after UFC on ESPN 46.

What mattered most at UFC on ESPN 46 in Las Vegas? Here are a few post-fight musings …

UFC on ESPN 46 post-event facts: Jared Cannonier, Marvin Vettori set striking records in main event

The UFC on ESPN 46 main event between Jared Cannonier and Marvin Vettori set a new bar for strikes landed in a middleweight bout.

UFC on ESPN 46 on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas proved to be a historic night.

The main event saw [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) emerge from a key matchup of former middleweight title challengers with a unanimous decision win over [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] (19-7-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC) in which he set a new single-fight record for most significant strikes landed in a divisional contest.

The Fight of the Night delivered, but for more numbers on the entire card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 46.

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Arman Tsarukyan targets Michael Chandler after TKO win: ‘His fight with Conor McGregor is over’

Arman Tsarukyan has seen “what Conor McGregor’s doing” and urges Michael Chandler to fight him instead after UFC on ESPN 46.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] has serious doubts [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] is going to get the chance to step in the octagon with Conor McGregor, and he’s offering an alternative.

After scoring a third-round TKO win over Joaquim Silva in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 46 co-headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, the surging lightweight contender Tsarukyan (20-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) made it known he wants a top-five name next.

His first desired matchup is with Beneil Dariush, but he doesn’t think it will fit his timeline for October’s UFC 294 event in Abu Dhabi. Because of that, he wants Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) instead.

“If you want to ask me, for sure I want to fight with Michael Chandler,” Tsarukyan told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at UFC on ESPN 46. Because it looks like his fight with Conor McGregor is over. He got to fight with someone, and I am here. I have good win streak and let’s do this fight, because I’m the youngest guy in top 15. He’s the older one. I think for fans it’s good when new generation fights with older generation.”

Chandler has been lined up for a fight with McGregor for the majority of this year, but there are many questions around it. They are opposing coaches on the current season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show, which was filmed several months ago. McGregor must re-enter the USADA drug testing program before any steps toward his comeback fight can be made.

Moreover, though, McGregor has recently been caught up in negative headlines as he was accused of sexual assault and rape following Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Miami this month. The situation is still unfolding, but the former two-division UFC champion has denied any wrongdoing through his representatives.

Even with that issues aside, though, Tsarukyan says he sees nothing from McGregor that indicates to him a fight is on the horizon.

“I saw what McGregor’s doing,” Tsarukyan said. “He’s like relaxing on his yacht, like drink alcohol, goes to the beach, smoke weed. I train with the crazy guys. I live in the gym, train three, two times a day. He’s not going to fight.”

Ultimately, Tsarukyan just wanted a chance to break through to the upper echelon at 155 pounds. He doesn’t care who it is, but after having to face an unranked opponent at UFC on ESPN 46, he craves more.

“If Dariush can fight in Abu Dhabi in October, definitely I want fight with him,” Tsarukyan said. “If not, you know me, I’m going to fight with everybody. But everybody from top five, forever. Chandler or Dariush or whatever. I think fight with Dariush, it makes sense.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 46.

UFC on ESPN 46 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Marvin Vettori’s $16,000 tops card

UFC on ESPN 46 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 46 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $140,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 46 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 46 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Joaquim Silva[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Armen Petrosyan[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Christian Duncan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Pat Sabatini[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Lucas Almeida[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Manuel Torres[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Nikolas Motta[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Nicolas Dalby[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Muslim Salikhov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Alessandro Costa[/autotag]: $4,000
def [autotag]Jimmy Flick[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Kyung Ho Kang[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Cristian Quinonez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Carlos Hernandez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Denys Bondar[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Tereza Bleda[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Gabriella Fernandes[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Dan Argueta[/autotag]: $4,000
vs. [autotag]Ronnie Lawrence[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Modestas Bukauskas[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Zac Pauga[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $46,000 while title challengers get $46,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-46 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $3,790,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $18,379,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 46.

UFC on ESPN 46 results: Arman Tsarukyan swarms for TKO, calls for Islam Makhachev

Arman Tsarukyan put a stamp on his performance at UFC on ESPN 46 by finishing Joaquim Silva in the third round.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] put a stamp on his performance at UFC on ESPN 46.

The co-main event lightweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas was a mostly one-sided affair for Tsarukyan (20-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), aside from a scare in the second round presented by Joaquim Silva. When it was all said and done, Tsarukyan had his hand raised as the winner by TKO at 3:25 of Round 3.

The first round was all Tsarukyan behind a smothering grappling approach. He was able to completely shut down anything Silva (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) presented, cruising into the second round. But that’s where things would get dicey for a moment.

Silva caught Tsaruykan clean with a pair of hard punches that wobbled Tsaruykan, making a big upset result a possibility. However, Tsarukyan kept his composure in the moment, and found a way to complete a takedown and control on top to survive and make it to the third round.

In the final frame, Tsarukyan came out looking to erase what happened in the previous round, and he was successful. After trading with Silva, Tsaruykan got the fight to the ground and began unleashing heavy ground and pound strikes, looking for the finish harder than before. He kept raining down strikes as Silva squirmed to escape from bottom, but he couldn’t get away, and the referee stopped the fight.

During his post-fight interview in the cage with Paul Felder, Tsarukyan said he would “smash” UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

With the win, Tsarukyan makes it two in a row. In his previous appearance, he won a unanimous decision over Damir Ismagulov in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 216 in December. Tsarukyan now has his eyes on a title shot and is very confident he can get the job done against Makhacehev.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 46.

UFC on ESPN 46 video: Hear from each winner, guest fighters backstage

Check out what the UFC on ESPN 46 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 46 took place Saturday with 12 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

You can hear from all the UFC on ESPN 46 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 46.

UFC on ESPN 47: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Joaquim Silva odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 47 odds and lines between Arman Tsarukyan vs. Joaquim Silva with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a lightweight bout on the main card, Arman Tsarukyan and Joaquim Silva meet Saturday at UFC on ESPN 47 — also known as UFC Vegas 75 — at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ESPN 47: Tsarukyan vs. Silva odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims are on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET, with the main card on ESPN/ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

Tsarukyan suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot in a main event on June 25 last year in one of the more underrated fights of the entire year. It was an absolute war. He redeemed himself with a unanimous-decision win over Damir Ismagulov in mid-December to get back on track.

The Armenian fighter has won 6 of his past 7 bouts, with 2 KO/TKO wins and 4 victories via unanimous-decision with the lone setback coming vs. Gamrot. The 26-year-old has just 3.56 significant strikes landed per minute, but he makes them count, striking at a 55.96% accuracy, to just 43.73% for his counterpart.

The 34-year-old Silva also gives up 3.5 inches in reach to Tsarukyan, and he isn’t much on the mat, either. Meanwhile, the Armenian fighter has a 3.30 takedown average and 33.33% takedown accuracy percentage.

Silva is a big hitter though, and the southpaw dropped Jesse Ronson last time out with a 2nd round victory in October. That win stopped a 2-bout losing streak where he lost via KO/TKO on 2 occasions, including a sloppy effort in a 37-second loss to Ricky Glenn in mid-June 2021. He is just 2-3 in his past 5 fights, with his past 4 fights ending via KO/TKO (2-2).

UFC on ESPN 47: Tsarukyan vs. Silva odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:53 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Tsarukyan -1100 (bet $1100 to win $100) | Silva +675 (bet $100 to win $675)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +250 | No -350)

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UFC on ESPN 47: Tsarukyan vs. Silva picks and predictions

Records: Tsarukyan (19-3-0) | Silva (12-4-0)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

There is no way to justify betting Tsarukyan (-1100), as he would cost you 11 times your potential return. In other words, a $100 wager would net you a profit of $9.09. That’s way too much risk for not enough reward.

Instead, let’s look to the Method of Victory instead. Tsarukyan has gone to the judges in 6 of his 8 UFC fights, so playing TSARUKYAN ON POINTS (+325) for a chance to triple up is a far better value — and a more likely scenario.

Over/Under (O/U)

YES (+250): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is worth playing, and it isn’t a bad parlay opportunity with Tsarukyan on points, as well as coupling with one of the other fighters on the card.

Tsarukyan isn’t a big puncher, but he’ll use his 3.5-inch reach advantage to pull Silva in and out, picking and choosing his spots to go for the big shots or takedowns, all the while wowing the judges and earning valuable points.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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Arman Tsarukyan eyes top ranked lightweight with UFC on ESPN 46 win – preferably Beneil Dariush

Arman Tsarukyan hopes to draw top-ranked opposition after UFC on ESPN 46.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] hopes to draw top-ranked opposition after UFC on ESPN 46.

Tsarukyan (19-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) meets Joaquim Silva (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

If he gets past Silva, Tsarukyan wants an opponent that progresses his career – preferably Beneil Dariush (22-5-1 MMA, 16-5-1 UFC), who’s coming off a TKO loss to Charles Oliveira this past Saturday at UFC 289.

“I would like to fight with Dariush, Fiziev, and Gamrot,” Tsarukyan told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 46 media day. “Three names I have on my mind, but I gotta win this Saturday. He’s a tough opponent.”

Tsarukyan expected that snapping Damir Ismagulov’s winning streak in his past fight would lead to a big name, but he drew Silva instead after the likes of Grant Dawson and Dan Hooker reportedly turned him down.

So, despite Silva being unranked, Tsarukyan expects to progress in the rankings with a win since the situation is out of his control.

“I want you guys to put me – I’m gonna knock him out this Saturday and put me in top five because it’s not my bad,” Tsarukyan said. “Last time I fought with Damir Ismagulov. Damir Ismagulov is toughest fighter in our division. I won (against) him and you didn’t even put me one number higher.

“I stayed in the same position. I was No. 9, I stayed No. 9. It’s crazy, so it doesn’t make sense to fight like this. If I’m gonna win this Saturday, I’m gonna stay the same rank? It doesn’t make sense. You guys gotta put me top five because it’s not my bad.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 46.

Arman Tsarukyan sees Charles Oliveira as favorable matchup: ‘I’m going to smash him, easy’

Arman Tsarukyan likes a potential matchup with former champ Charles Oliveira.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] respects Charles Oliveira, but if you ask him, he sees easy work in the former UFC champion.

Tsarukyan (19-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is set to make his return this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 46, as he takes on Joaquim Silva (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) in a lightweight bout that airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Ahead of his fight, Tsarukyan was asked about his thoughts on Oliveira’s first-round TKO win over Beneil Dariush this past Saturday at UFC 289.

“Charles is a good opponent, a good fighter,” Tsarukyan told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 46 media day. “He has a lot of experience, and he’s patient. It showed what level has Charles. For me, Charles is a present, I’m going to smash him, easy. Because his style for me is the best style.”

Tsarukyan, 26, said he expected Dariush to win the contest and go on to challenge champion Islam Makhachev at October’s UFC 294 event in Abu Dhabi. However, with the setback, Tsarukyan doesn’t see a path back to a championship for Dariush, 34, given his age.

“I thought Dariush was going to win, for sure,” Tsarukyan said. “He’s in good shape. It was his last chance in his life, I think, to be a champion, to fight with Islam Makhachev. Because if he won, he could fight with Islam Makhachev, but now he lost and to go on the top, to be a contender, it takes a year, a year and a half, two years, you know. He’s not young like me. That’s why I thought he was going to give all himself in this fight. He did start to look good, but then something happened, he missed the punch, and it is what it is.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 225.