A few days following his shot at the UFC lightweight title, UFC athlete Shara Magomedov faced off against Arman Tsarukyan. After being left out of the UFC lightweight title picture, Tsarukyan opted to stay active by competing in grappling events. Just over a week ago, the top-ranked lightweight in MMA’s leading organization claimed a championship at ACBJJ 20. Shortly thereafter, he scheduled two additional grappling matches, one of which was against fellow UFC star Shara Magomedov.
The two fighters will meet this Tuesday on the mats at Hype FC in Yerevan, Armenia, battling for the 185-pound title. Ahead of this, they participated in a press conference where Shara “Bullet” addressed their shared history with ‘Ahal Karakets’ and highlighted how Tsarukyan has been mocked by the likes of Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker. Magomedov responded to a leaked video of Tsarukyan claiming she was hesitant to wrestle him, saying that she has faced far tougher challenges growing up and dismissing his claims of fear.
Tsarukyan’s bout with Magomedov marks the first of two non-UFC contests he has lined up early this year. On January 10th, he will wrestle former PFL champion Lance Palmer at RAF 5.
Fan Take: This matchup highlights the growing trend of fighters enhancing their grappling skills outside the UFC spotlight, which can elevate the technical level of the sport. Fans should watch closely as these cross-discipline showdowns could redefine how fighters prepare and compete in MMA’s future.
