UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has revealed some unexpected plans for his career beyond MMA. Despite staying near the top of the UFC’s 155-pound rankings for a long time, Tsarukyan has yet to compete for the title. Even when Ilya Topuria announced a temporary hiatus, it seemed like Tsarukyan might finally get a shot at the belt, but Dana White has once again overlooked him. Although there are rumors of tension between them, White insists he has no issues with Tsarukyan, despite repeatedly denying him title opportunities.
At only 29 years old and seemingly in his prime, Tsarukyan is already mapping out a life after the UFC. Known for coming from a wealthy family—a fact often joked about in the UFC—he doesn’t feel pressured to chase lucrative careers after MMA. Instead, Tsarukyan plans to take up triathlons, leveraging his strengths in cycling and swimming and adding running to the mix, allowing him to travel globally and meet new people through this sport. However, he still aspires to become a UFC champion and even hopes to be a two-division titleholder by moving up to 170 pounds after a few more lightweight fights.
In addition to his UFC endeavors, Tsarukyan has accepted fights outside the promotion. On December 30th, he is set to face fellow UFC athlete Shara Magomedov in a grappling match in Yerevan, Armenia, marking his fourth grappling competition this year.
Fan Take: Tsarukyan’s openness about his future and plans beyond MMA highlights a new mindset among fighters, balancing professional ambitions with personal fulfillment. His grappling bout outside the UFC also signals how the sport is evolving, with fighters expanding their competitive horizons and engaging fans across different combat sports disciplines.
