# Arman Tsarukyan
**Arman Tsarukyan** (born 1996) is an Armenian professional mixed martial artist, submission grappler, and freestyle wrestler who competes in the lightweight division of the [Ultimate Fighting Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/ultimate-fighting-championship) (UFC). Born in Akhalkalaki, Georgia, he fights under the nickname "Akhalkalakets," a reference to his birthplace, as well as "The Batman," and has established himself as one of the top contenders at 155 pounds, with wins over former champion [Charles Oliveira](https://www.edgepedia.org/charles-oliveira) and longtime ranked lightweights [Beneil Dariush](https://www.edgepedia.org/beneil-dariush) and Dan Hooker.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) • [2](https://mma-official.com/en/combattants/arman-tsarukyan/) • [19](https://www.thearmenianreport.com/post/arman-tsarukyan-changes-ufc-nickname-to-batman-ahead-of-los-angeles-return)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1996, Akhalkalaki, Georgia; height 5'7" (170 cm); fights at lightweight[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) |
| Professional record | 24 wins, 3 losses (10 by KO/TKO, 6 by submission, 8 by decision)[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) |
| UFC debut | Lost a three-round unanimous decision to Islam Makhachev on short notice, April 20, 2019[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) • [3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/13/24129790/ufc-300-results-arman-tsarukyan-wins-split-decision-over-charles-oliveira-in-back-and-forth-battle) |
| Signature win | Split decision over former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300, April 13, 2024[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/13/24129790/ufc-300-results-arman-tsarukyan-wins-split-decision-over-charles-oliveira-in-back-and-forth-battle) |
| Title shot withdrawn | Pulled out of a UFC 311 lightweight title fight against Makhachev in January 2025 with a back injury suffered the day before[4](https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/7/27/24474997/arman-tsarukyan-ufc-should-delete-paddy-pimblett-from-the-lightweight-rankings) • [5](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/combates-de-grappling-los-nuevos-desempenos-de-arman-tsarukyan-n/) |
| Background | Master of Sport in freestyle wrestling and in MMA; team Ararat MMA, associated with American Top Team[6](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/arman-tsarukyan) • [1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) |
| Outside the UFC | Active in Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling, including a scheduled match with Colby Covington at RAF 11[7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzwPlc3sMj0) |
## Early career and UFC debut
Tsarukyan began his professional career in Russian regional promotions in 2015, winning most of his early fights by stoppage, including a string of first-round submissions in 2016 and 2017.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) His UFC debut came on April 20, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 149, where he took a short-notice fight against [Islam Makhachev](https://www.edgepedia.org/islam-makhachev), a training partner of [Khabib Nurmagomedov](https://www.edgepedia.org/khabib-nurmagomedov) and a future champion, and lost a three-round unanimous decision.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) • [3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/13/24129790/ufc-300-results-arman-tsarukyan-wins-split-decision-over-charles-oliveira-in-back-and-forth-battle) The fight was competitive enough that Tsarukyan later described it as the toughest fight he had given Makhachev, and it became the reference point for a proposed rematch years later.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/13/24129790/ufc-300-results-arman-tsarukyan-wins-split-decision-over-charles-oliveira-in-back-and-forth-battle)
## Rise through the lightweight division
After the debut loss, Tsarukyan won seven of his next eight UFC bouts. Victories over [Olivier Aubin-Mercier](https://www.edgepedia.org/olivier-aubin-mercier), Davi Ramos, Matt Frevola, Christos Giagos, and Joel Alvarez built momentum, and a unanimous-decision loss to [Mateusz Gamrot](https://www.edgepedia.org/mateusz-gamrot) in June 2022 was his only setback in that stretch.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) A first-round knockout of Beneil Dariush in December 2023, finished with a knee and punches in just 64 seconds, moved him into the division's upper tier.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913)
**UFC 300.** On April 13, 2024, Tsarukyan faced former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and won a split decision, with two judges scoring 29-28 for Tsarukyan and the third giving the same score to Oliveira.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/13/24129790/ufc-300-results-arman-tsarukyan-wins-split-decision-over-charles-oliveira-in-back-and-forth-battle) The fight was close throughout: Oliveira nearly finished the fight in the first round with a guillotine choke and later threatened with a D'arce choke, while Tsarukyan's wrestling, top control, and ground-and-pound, including elbows that cut Oliveira, carried the later rounds.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/13/24129790/ufc-300-results-arman-tsarukyan-wins-split-decision-over-charles-oliveira-in-back-and-forth-battle) The win extended his lightweight winning streak to four and put him directly in line for a title shot.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/13/24129790/ufc-300-results-arman-tsarukyan-wins-split-decision-over-charles-oliveira-in-back-and-forth-battle)
## The withdrawn title shot and the wait
Tsarukyan was booked to challenge Makhachev for the lightweight title in the main event of [UFC 311](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-311) at the [Intuit Dome](https://www.edgepedia.org/intuit-dome) in [Inglewood, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/inglewood-california), in January 2025. He withdrew one day before the fight because of a back injury, and Renato Moicano replaced him on short notice.[4](https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/7/27/24474997/arman-tsarukyan-ufc-should-delete-paddy-pimblett-from-the-lightweight-rankings) • [5](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/combates-de-grappling-los-nuevos-desempenos-de-arman-tsarukyan-n/) • [8](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/makhachev-apunta-a-ser-campeon-historico-en-dos-pesos-f202511-n/) The withdrawal cost him his first opportunity to fight for UFC gold, and the title picture then shifted around him: Makhachev later moved toward a two-division ambition, and Ilia Topuria came up from featherweight into the lightweight title conversation.[4](https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/7/27/24474997/arman-tsarukyan-ufc-should-delete-paddy-pimblett-from-the-lightweight-rankings) • [8](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/makhachev-apunta-a-ser-campeon-historico-en-dos-pesos-f202511-n/)
He returned in November 2025 and submitted [Dan Hooker](https://www.edgepedia.org/dan-hooker) with an arm-triangle choke in the second round at UFC Fight Night 265, earning a [Performance](https://www.edgepedia.org/performance) of the Night bonus.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) • [9](https://fightiq.net/fighter/arman-tsarukyan) Frustrated with repeated title snubs at lightweight, he said he was considering moving down to featherweight to chase a title there.[10](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Arman-Tsarukyan-Considers-Move-to-Featherweight-to-Chase-UFC-Title-199921) He also served as the backup fighter for lightweight title bouts involving Topuria, first against Oliveira and later against [Justin Gaethje](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-gaethje), but chose to prioritize his wrestling commitments rather than remain on standby for the June 2026 event.[11](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/tsarukyan-no-sera-el-suplente-de-la-pelea-entre-topuria-y-gaethje-f202606-n/)
## UFC 331 and contender status
At Crypto.com UFC 331 in Los Angeles on September 19, 2026, Tsarukyan faced Brazilian striker Mauricio Ruffy in a five-round co-main event behind the flyweight title fight between [Joshua Van](https://www.edgepedia.org/joshua-van) and [Alexandre Pantoja](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexandre-pantoja).[12](https://www.ufc.com/news/arman-tsarukyan-out-prove-hes-contender-no-1-crypto-ufc-331) • [13](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/van-defendera-el-titulo-ante-pantoja-tsarukyan-vuelve-f202608-n/) He knocked Ruffy out with an elbow at 4:56 of the first round.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) • [14](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/fighter/50035661/arman-tsarukyan/) The choice of Los Angeles was meaningful for him: the Greater Los Angeles area has the largest Armenian population of any place in the United States, and Tsarukyan said representing his country there was special.[12](https://www.ufc.com/news/arman-tsarukyan-out-prove-hes-contender-no-1-crypto-ufc-331) After the win, divisional rankings coverage described him as having made his case for a lightweight title shot, and he publicly positioned himself as the mandatory challenger.[15](https://www.mmafighting.com/rankings/511846/mma-divisional-rankings-arman-tsarukyan-makes-case-for-lightweight-crown-after-ufc-331-statement-win) • [16](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/tsarukyan-sobre-gaethje-intenta-evitarme-y-va-a-llamar-a-topuria-f202609-n/)
## Fighting style
Tsarukyan's base is wrestling. He holds the title of Master of Sport in freestyle wrestling and in MMA, a Soviet-era and post-Soviet distinction for elite technical achievement, and his UFC game is built on takedowns, top control, and ground-and-pound.[6](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/arman-tsarukyan) • [3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/13/24129790/ufc-300-results-arman-tsarukyan-wins-split-decision-over-charles-oliveira-in-back-and-forth-battle) Statistical breakdowns show him hunting takedowns at 3.26 per 15 minutes against a lightweight norm of 1.36, and his striking output is distributed heavily to the legs, consistent with a kicking-oriented stand-up game.[17](https://www.bout-scout.com/matchup/dan-hooker/vs/arman-tsarukyan) • [18](https://www.mmaindex.com/compare/arman-tsarukyan-eae48ff3/max-holloway-150ff4cc) His finishing record is balanced: of his 24 professional wins, 10 have come by KO/TKO, 6 by submission, and 8 by decision.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913)
## Activities outside the UFC
Tsarukyan has remained unusually active between MMA fights. He has competed in Real American Freestyle (RAF), a freestyle wrestling promotion, where a main-event wrestling match against former UFC welterweight Colby Covington was scheduled for RAF 11, and a bout against Rolles Gracie was announced for the promotion's inaugural Abu Dhabi card in November 2026.[7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzwPlc3sMj0) • [1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913) He has also said he is considering entering freestyle wrestling at the 2028 Olympics, and he has weighed a permanent move to featherweight in MMA as alternatives to waiting for a lightweight title opportunity.[10](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Arman-Tsarukyan-Considers-Move-to-Featherweight-to-Chase-UFC-Title-199921)
## References
1. [Arman "The Batman" Tsarukyan fighter page, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Arman-Tsarukyan-213913)
2. [Arman Tsarukyan: MMA Record, Stats and Next Fight, MMA Official](https://mma-official.com/en/combattants/arman-tsarukyan/)
3. [UFC 300 results: Arman Tsarukyan wins split decision over Charles Oliveira, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/4/13/24129790/ufc-300-results-arman-tsarukyan-wins-split-decision-over-charles-oliveira-in-back-and-forth-battle)
4. [Arman Tsarukyan: UFC should 'delete' Paddy Pimblett from the lightweight rankings, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/7/27/24474997/arman-tsarukyan-ufc-should-delete-paddy-pimblett-from-the-lightweight-rankings)
5. [Combates de grappling: los nuevos desempeños de Arman Tsarukyan, AS.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/combates-de-grappling-los-nuevos-desempenos-de-arman-tsarukyan-n/)
6. [Arman Tsarukyan, UFC.com athlete page](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/arman-tsarukyan)
7. [Arman Tsarukyan Says Next UFC Fight Agreed, Talks RAF 11, MMA Fighting on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzwPlc3sMj0)
8. [Makhachev apunta a ser campeón histórico en dos pesos, AS.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/makhachev-apunta-a-ser-campeon-historico-en-dos-pesos-f202511-n/)
9. [Arman Tsarukyan record & tale of the tape, FightIQ](https://fightiq.net/fighter/arman-tsarukyan)
10. [Arman Tsarukyan Considers Move to Featherweight to Chase UFC Title, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Arman-Tsarukyan-Considers-Move-to-Featherweight-to-Chase-UFC-Title-199921)
11. [Tsarukyan no será el suplente de la pelea entre Topuria y Gaethje, AS.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/tsarukyan-no-sera-el-suplente-de-la-pelea-entre-topuria-y-gaethje-f202606-n/)
12. [Arman Tsarukyan Is Out To Prove He Is 'Contender No. 1', UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/arman-tsarukyan-out-prove-hes-contender-no-1-crypto-ufc-331)
13. [Van defenderá el título ante Pantoja; Tsarukyan vuelve, AS.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/van-defendera-el-titulo-ante-pantoja-tsarukyan-vuelve-f202608-n/)
14. [Arman Tsarukyan, CBS Sports fighter profile](https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/fighter/50035661/arman-tsarukyan/)
15. [MMA Divisional Rankings: Arman Tsarukyan makes case for lightweight crown after UFC 331 statement win, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/rankings/511846/mma-divisional-rankings-arman-tsarukyan-makes-case-for-lightweight-crown-after-ufc-331-statement-win)
16. [Tsarukyan, sobre Gaethje: "Intenta evitarme y va a llamar a Topuria", AS.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/tsarukyan-sobre-gaethje-intenta-evitarme-y-va-a-llamar-a-topuria-f202609-n/)
17. [Dan Hooker vs Arman Tsarukyan matchup deep-dive, Bout Scout](https://www.bout-scout.com/matchup/dan-hooker/vs/arman-tsarukyan)
18. [Arman Tsarukyan vs Max Holloway comparison, MMA Index](https://www.mmaindex.com/compare/arman-tsarukyan-eae48ff3/max-holloway-150ff4cc)
19. [Arman Tsarukyan Changes UFC Nickname to ‘Batman’ Ahead of Los Angeles Return](https://www.thearmenianreport.com/post/arman-tsarukyan-changes-ufc-nickname-to-batman-ahead-of-los-angeles-return)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Lightweight fighters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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