Arman Tsarukyan’s winning return to action continued tonight at ADXC in Russia as he submitted Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire.
The Armenian has had two grappling matches since he was forced out of UFC 311 on just hours’ notice back in January and couldn’t face Islam Makhachev. As he awaits UFC fight news, he is competing with ADXC, and defeated a former Bellator champion in tonight’s outing.
Now, he is expecting to return to the octagon for a first MMA fight since his win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 well over a year ago. Whether or not he will get a shot at the winner of the UFC 317 main event is unclear, and he has also been locked in a verbal back-and-forth with Paddy Pimblett in recent days.
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Arman Tsarukyan submits Patricky Pitbull in latest grappling outing
It took Arman Tsarukyan a difficult five rounds to find his way to a finish against the game Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Patricky Pitbull. The former Bellator lightweight champion is one of the infamous Pitbull Brothers, who ruled the promotion until its sale to PFL last year.
Tsarukyan ended up taking his rival’s back in the fifth and landing a rear naked choke, with just seconds left in the round. Pitbull had put up a tough fight, noting prior to the bout that a win in such a setting could set him up for a UFC debut in future.
The victory was Tsarukyan’s second since returning to competition in Karate Combat earlier this month. He took a decision that night against Makkasharip Zaynukov, and is now setting his sights on a UFC comeback that he insists is imminent.
Paddy Pimblett had declared ‘nobody cares’ about Arman Tsarukyan hours before big win
Prior to tonight’s grappling event, Tsarukyan found himself in an online war of words with Paddy Pimblett over a potential bout between the pair. The Brit claimed that he has no interest in facing Tsarukyan, and would rather face Justin Gaethje next.
This angered the top lightweight contender, who replied to the story: “It was obvious you were talking trash with zero intention of backing it up. Your UFC career is built on handouts, hype, and shortcuts to the top.”
Pimblett then went nuclear in his comeback, telling Tsarukyan: “Rich boy talking about handouts. You’ve been handed everything on a silver platter ur whole life by daddy u [clown].
“Never said I wudnt fight you its just nobody cares about you after pulling out against Islam because of a ‘back injury’ we all know u was menstruating really u sausage.”