Tag: Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan fined $25K, suspended nine months by NAC for UFC 300 fan altercation

The Nevada Athletic Commission has issued its verdict on the incident during Arman Tsarukyan’s walkout at UFC 300.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]’s pre-fight incident with a fan at UFC 300 has come with a cost.

The UFC lightweight contender has been fined $25,000 and suspended nine months by the Nevada Athletic Commission for throwing a punch at a fan during his walkout for his fight against Charles Oliveira on April 13 in Las Vegas. The NAC announced its ruling Tuesday during a monthly board meeting.

Tsarukyan’s suspension is set to terminate nine months from the date of the incident – which is Jan. 12, 2025. The suspension could get reduced to six months if Tsarukyan issues an anti-bullying public service announcement approved by the commission, which would make him eligible to return to action Oct. 12.

Tsarukyan was met with a middle finger by a fan during his walkout before his split decision win over Oliveira. In response, Tsarukyan threw a punch into the crowd, which was captured on the broadcast and from multiple cell phone cameras.

The 27-year-old is currently on a four-fight winning streak and regarded as the next title challenger, given his bout with Oliveira was labeled a “title eliminator” by the UFC.

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Chael Sonnen surprised Arman Tsarukyan turned down Islam Makhachev at UFC 302: ‘It’s not a good idea historically’

Chael Sonnen questions Arman Tsarukyan’s decision not to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 302.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] questions [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]’s decision not to fight [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] at UFC 302.

After defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April, Tsarukyan turned down a short-notice opportunity to challenge lightweight champion Makhachev earlier this month. Makhachev faced Dustin Poirier instead, submitting him in Round 5.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is the current No. 1 contender. However, Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is more interested in other options such as the welterweight title and even Conor McGregor, over running things back with Tsarukyan.

Sonnen thinks Tsarukyan may now have missed out on his title opportunity.

“Somebody in that spot would be very vulnerable to have that spot taken,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “Tsarukyan was offered Islam. The very fight that Dustin Poirier just did was offered to Tsarukyan. … I was surprised that he said no. It’s not a good idea, historically speaking, in the UFC – and this is a 99 percent: It’s not a good idea to turn down fights.”

Sonnen is also surprised that no other lightweight contender has issued Makhachev a callout, or tried to take Tsarukyan’s title contention spot.

“There’s not a 155-pounder out there who has called out Islam, for one, but who has gone after Arman’s spot, for two,” Sonnen said. “And what a vulnerable position that is, by using the facts, by using the truth, by bringing up the fact (Tsarukyan) turned it down, it’s one of these things. I don’t think Islam himself who doesn’t overly want to do the fight – Islam just wants new matchups. I think we all understand that.”

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Arman Tsarukyan: Version of Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 ‘would be very easy fight for me’

After watching Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, Arman Tsarukyan is adamant he can beat him.

After watching [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] at UFC 302, [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] is adamant he can beat him.

Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) retained his lightweight title with a Round 5 submission of Dustin Poirier in this past Saturday’s main event. Tsarukyan is touted to be the next title challenger, as he’ll look to avenge his UFC debut loss to Makhachev.

Tsarukyan saw Makhachev slow down against Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC), and thinks he’d exploit him if he got tired in their fight. Makhachev confirmed speculation that he was battling a staph infection less than a month out of the fight.

“It would be very easy fight for me,” Tsarukyan said on The MMA Hour. “I could outwrestle him (in) that fight as well because he got tired. When you’re tired, you can’t do sh*t. Even if you have the best skills in the world, if you’re tired, you’re done. All his five-round fights – he got tired with Volkanovski, he got tired with Dustin, and hopefully it’s going to be my key to win this fight.

Poirier hung tough, stuffing multiple takedown attempts and even busting Makhachev open with an elbow. Tsarukyan expected Poirier to perform well.

“I wasn’t (surprised),” Tsarukyan said. “I knew his heart is very good and I told everybody it’s like 60-40. Everybody talk like, ‘Oh, Islam going to win him, 100 percent. He’s not going to give him any chance,’ but I knew it’s going to be tough fight. Dustin, he’s a dog, so I wasn’t like – his defensive wrestling was super good and Islam couldn’t choke him. When he got tired in the fifth round, yeah, he got him.

“It wasn’t his best performance. He got tired and he was slow. I feel like Islam doesn’t have very good conditioning or maybe he got sick or whatever. I’m not judging him because of his last fight, I got to watch all his fights and take him serious. He’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. I’m just going to prepare like it’s best version of Islam Makhachev. Not underestimate him. Dustin can defend his wrestling, I’m going to defend as well.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

Eddie Alvarez confident Arman Tsarukyan beats UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev

Eddie Alvarez thinks Arman Tsarukyan is the one to dethrone UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

[autotag]Eddie Alvarez[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] is the one to dethrone UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag].

Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) retained his title with a fifth-round submission of Dustin Poirier in this past Saturday’s UFC 302 headliner at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

When comparing Makhachev to his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Alvarez says Makhachev’s risk taking is what makes him more beatable than Nurmagomedov.

“Islam is not Khabib, he doesn’t fight like Khabib,” Alvarez said on The MMA Hour. “He takes more chances, he takes more risks and relies on finishing guys, where Khabib just knew you weren’t going to be able to deal with him over time and he’d take you from 100 percent energy to 0 energy, and then he would finish you.

“Islam’s going to go for it, he’s going to leave himself more vulnerable so he’s a little bit funner to watch, but he’s more susceptible to getting beat than Khabib was.”

Makhachev said he’s more interested in challenging for the welterweight title than rematching Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), whom he beat in April 2019. That was just Tsarukyan’s UFC debut, and the 27-year-old has since gone 9-1.

Alvarez thinks Makhachev and his team are avoiding Tsarukyan. The former UFC lightweight champion also sees Tsarukyan being able to resist Makhachev’s wrestling, and even picked him to win – especially after seeing Poirier fend off numerous of Makhachev’s takedown attempts.

“Arman beats him,” Alvarez said. “I made that assumption right after the (Poirier) fight. Everybody Khabib defended against, he had what I call the state-grappling advantage. The gap in the grappling advantage was so high, and he dominated these guys. … If you’re able to match their wrestling a little bit where they can’t dominate you and you can put them in a fight, you start to see they’re a little bit human.”

“Arman, because of his wrestling background, he’s going to be able to stop the shot. He may even take Islam down a little bit. Islam won’t be the hammer the entire fight, and we need to see how he deals with that because they’re always the hammer.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

Islam Makhachev prefers UFC welterweight title shot over Arman Tsarukyan: ‘It does not make sense when you have rematch’

Following UFC 302, Islam Makhachev gave his immediate road map and what he wants next – and he’d prefer Arman Tsarukyan not be part of that.

NEWARK, N.J. – [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] will accept whatever challenge the promotion offers him next, but his preferences are clear.

Following UFC 302, UFC CEO Dana White called a matchup vs. [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] the fight to make for Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC). However, the lightweight champion much prefers a step up in division instead after his submission win Saturday over Dustin Poirier.

“Who doesn’t want to be double champion?” Makhachev told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at a post-fight news conference Sunday at Prudential Center. “This is history. How many double champions we have? This is a dream for all fighters, to get second belt.

“This is my dream. I want to be in the history and people know me like double champ. This is my dream. If I have chance, a small chance, I will get. If you want a great legacy, you have to get second belt. It’s my opinion.”

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Makhachev repeatedly called for a fight at Madison Square Garden in New York and voiced enjoyment in fighting in the United States.

While Makhachev said he’d agree to fight Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) if that’s what White wants, the prospect of fighting someone he already beat is largely unappealing.

Makhachev defeated Tsarukyan by unanimous decision in April 2019. It was Tsarukyan’s promotional debut.

“I’m ready, man,” Makhachev said. “Dana has my number. Just call me and put some new challenge. … It does not make sense when you have rematch. I need some new challenge. But if Dana want, let’s do it. No problem.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

Diego Lopes’ Dana White-approved UFC 300 fence-hopping fine reduced to $2,500

The Nevada Athletic Commission is going to have to cut Diego Lopes a check after Friday’s hearing … sort of.

The Nevada Athletic Commission is going to have to cut [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] a check after Friday’s hearing … sort of.

Lopes was fined $5,000 when he hopped over the fence after his UFC 300 finish of Sodiq Yusuff in April.

Friday, the NAC cut that suspension in half in an adjudication with Lopes. Officially, his fine will be $2,500 plus legal fees of $157.04. Because the commission already withheld $5,000 from Lopes, which was 5 percent of his $100,000 purse, he’s due the difference.

At a prior hearing, NAC executive director Jeff Mullen said UFC CEO Dana White said he’d pay Lopes’ fine. Video showed Lopes appeared to ask White for permission to jump over the fence before he did it.

“After (Lopes) won, he jumped up and gestured toward Dana White, like, ‘Can I come over? Can I come over?'” Mullen said. “And White gestured like, ‘Come over.’ Then, I immediately stood up and took a step over that way and Dana White said, ‘I will pay his fine. I will pay his fine.’ Then our inspectors came around and proceeded to (assist) as I was trying to get him back in the cage, also. Our inspectors came around and escorted him back in the cage.”

Lopes (24-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) knocked out Yusuff (13-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) just 89 seconds into their featherweight fight at UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. After a loss in his UFC debut, Lopes has three straight first-round finishes, all around the 90-second range.

Also at Friday’s hearing, the commission extended the temporary suspensions of [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag], [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag] and [autotag]Jay Jay Wilson[/autotag] for resolution at a future meeting.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Islam Makhachev: Arman Tsarukyan should ‘thank me’ for putting him on UFC map

Islam Makhachev believes Arman Tsarukyan should show him gratitude for kickstarting his UFC career.

UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] believes [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] should show him gratitude for kickstarting his UFC career.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) made his UFC debut in a short-notice matchup against Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) back in April 2019. He lost a back-and-forth Fight of the Night unanimous decision and has since gone 9-1 to climb into lightweight title contention.

Makhachev takes credit for giving a 22-year-old Tsarukyan the big opportunity.

“I think Arman should thank me. I signed Arman for a fight against me,” Makhachev told UFC Eurasia. “He got signed to the UFC. I didn’t know anything about Arman then. I haven’t seen him fight. I just thought of him as a debutant. I wouldn’t call it a close fight even though many people say it was. I won every round, but Arman still calls for a rematch.”

Tsarukyan emerged as No. 1 contender when he defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April but declined the short-notice opportunity to rematch Makhachev in Saturday’s UFC 302 (pay-per-view/ESPN2/ESPN+) main event. Makhachev faces Dustin Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) instead at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

“He had many opportunities to come out as a substitute,” Makhachev said. “I know that before UFC 302, he was offered to fight me. Either way, our rematch is inevitable. We’ll settle this soon.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

Charles Oliveira doesn’t see Dustin Poirier or Arman Tsarukyan dethroning UFC champ Islam Makhachev

Charles Oliveira picks Islam Makhachev to beat Dustin Poirier and Arman Tsarukyan.

[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] picks [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] to beat [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag].

Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) defends his lightweight title against Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 302 (pay-per-view/ESPN2/ESPN+) headliner at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) fought both Makhachev and Poirier before. “Do Bronx” choked out Poirier to retain his lightweight title at UFC 269 and was dropped and submitted in his vacant title fight against Makhachev at UFC 280.

“Every striker that faces Islam is going to be the same thing: (Makhachev) will take you down and have bigger chances at winning,” Oliveira told MMA Fighting. “But we’re talking about MMA, and one hand, one strike that lands can definitely get you the victory.

“Dustin Poirier has shown that in his last fight, he’s shown that many times already. He has heavy hands and hits hard, so he definitely can knock him out, but I think Islam remains as champion.”

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), who defeated Oliveira by split decision at UFC 300 in April, was the original No. 1 contender before he declined the short-notice opportunity. Oliveira doesn’t think he has the skill set to beat Makhachev in a rematch.

“Arman is a guy that takes you down and holds you there the entire time,” Oliveira said. “No way. It’s not a fight he can win. Of course, I’ve just said this and I can’t backtrack, we’re talking about MMA, and it’s very unpredictable.

“A guy closes his eyes and throws a hand that lands, you’re knocked out. He throws a kick that lands, you shoot for a takedown and end up in a submission. MMA is unpredictable, but I think Islam is way more experienced, has more focus, more hunger, and is much stronger than Arman.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

Arman Tsarukyan: Islam Makhachev must take Dustin Poirier down right away or ‘it’s going to be dangerous’

Arman Tsarukyan is warning Islam Makhachev that he needs to realize success with his wrestling early against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] is warning UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] that he needs to realize success with his wrestling early vs. [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag].

Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) defends his title against Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in the UFC 302 main event June 1 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Makhachev has proven that he’s not just a grappler – most recently when he knocked out former featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski with a head kick at UFC 294. However, Tsarukyan thinks it would be a mistake if Makhachev engaged in the striking with his American Top Team teammate.

“I see Islam is going to try and push him to the cage, to take him down and try to hold him, submit him,” Tsarukyan told the New York Post. “But if he can’t do that, it’s going to be dangerous. If he wants to box him, I think Dustin Poirier on a different level.

“His punch, his speed, he can knock him out very fast. That’s why Islam’s got to try to take him down right away. For me, the favorite is Islam on this fight, but like I can put money on Dustin Poirier KO, because it could happen.”

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) defeated former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April but passed up on the short-notice opportunity to challenge Makhachev less than two months later. Poirier was awarded the title shot instead, but Tsarukyan expects the UFC to do right by him and give him the winner.

“I’m going to wait for my title fight,” Tsarukyan said. “I know UFC is going to give me that chance because they’re not bullsh*t. They’re going to do real fight.”

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For more on the cards, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

Islam Makhachev’s coach: Arman Tsarukyan passing up title shot ‘right call from him’

Javier Mendez agrees with Arman Tsarukyan’s decision to not fight Islam Makhachev on short notice.

[autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] agrees with [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]’s decision to not fight [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] on short notice.

Tsarukyan defeated former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. He was offered a title shot against lightweight champion Makhachev on less than two-months notice at UFC 302 on June 1, but turned down the opportunity due to the lack of time to prepare.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost a back-and-forth battle to Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) in his UFC debut. Makhachev’s coach Mendez thinks Tsarukyan was right to decline a quick turnaround.

“From people that I know with him, they said that, yeah, he’s just said he wouldn’t be ready for that type of fight just yet,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “You know, he might have more time to prepare. And you know what? That’s the right call from him. It’s like, he’s in the driver’s seat, also, so why would he risk his chance?

“Why not go properly prepared for the opportunity that he presented himself by having a victory over Oliveira? So no, I think it’s true, and I think he did the right thing by what he needs to do for what he wants. Had it been anybody else, I don’t know what they would have done. I think someone like Max Holloway, if he was put in that situation, he probably would have been one of the few guys that would have said, ‘I’m in.'”

Instead, Makhachev will defend his title against Dustin Poirier at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. If Makhachev gets passed “The Diamond,” Mendez expects Tsarukyan to be next, but wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t.

“I think Arman is going to be more than likely the guy, I’m thinking,” Mendez said. “Who knows. But if everything goes according to what they would probably want, we’re OK with Arman. We’re OK with Max. Whatever the UFC offers, Islam’s going to take it. I’m sure it’s not his preferable choice.

“If he asks Islam what he wants after this one, he’d want to go for the welterweight title because he wants to repeat what other people rarely do: become a two-(division) champion. So that’s what he would want – I’m pretty sure about that. But it’s a matter of whether the UFC wants to give him that opportunity right now. I think at some point, they will.”

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For more on the cards, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.