#1 UFC Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan will be returning sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, it’s not the UFC title fight he wanted against champion Islam Makhachev, a bout Tsarukyan withdrew from earlier this year at UFC 311 due to a last-minute back injury.
The 28-year-old worked his way up to a title opportunity with impressive wins over Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira, narrowly defeating the former champ at UFC 300 around this time last year.
9-1 in his last 10 fights, Tsarukyan hasn’t competed since.
Ready to fight anyone to prove he’s worthy of another crack at Makhachev’s lightweight belt, Arman Tsarukyan journeys outside the Octagon.
Arman Tsarukyan booked for grappling match in Karate Combat
Coming in on short notice, Tsarukyan will reportedly compete in a grappling match this Friday, May 2nd, at Karate Combat 54 as part of their Pit Submission Series.
As first reported by Ariel Helwani, Tsarukyan is set to take on Makkasharip Zaynukov, a fellow MMA fighter and teammate of UFC Champ Makhachev.
The grappling match will be contested at a catchweight of 175lbs from Dubai.
Tsarukyan vs. Zaynukov is the latest addition to the Karate Combat 54 card featuring former UFC stars like Muhammad Mokaev and ‘Smile’n’ Sam Alvey, who fights Tyrone Spong in the headliner.
Who is Arman Tsarukyan’s opponent Makkasharip Zaynukov?
Fighting out of Dagestan just like his teammate Islam Makhachev, Makkasharip Zaynukov is a MMA fighter with a pro record of 16-4.
Zaynukov has fought in numerous promotions outside the UFC such as UAE Warriors, RCC and GFC.
The Russian recently made his PFL debut last October on the PFL Super Fights card, defeating a 9-4 Dedrek Sanders in a lightweight bout.
Only two of Zaynukov’s 16 wins have come by submission. We’ll see how Makhachev’s teammate stacks up against the top-seed lightweight Arman Tsarukyan on Friday.