WATCH: Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan is Going Viral for Slamming UFC 185-Pound Star Sharaputdin Magomedov

Top UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan slams Sharaputdin Magomedov in their much-anticipated grappling contest.

WATCH: Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan is Going Viral for Slamming UFC 185-Pound Star Sharaputdin Magomedov

Arman Tsarukyan slams Sharaputdin Magomedov (via X)

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Apart from competing inside the UFC Octagon, Arman Tsarukyan consistently stays active by taking part in high-level grappling matches. The elite lightweight recently faced popular UFC middleweight Sharaputdin Magomedov in a special submission-only no-gi contest at Hype FC.

The matchup generated massive attention after both fighters engaged in a friendly verbal clash during the press conference, raising anticipation significantly. Their bout was scheduled as a single six-minute round under submission-only rules, meaning points, judges, and decisions were completely irrelevant.

Despite being the smaller fighter, Tsarukyan immediately imposed his wrestling, securing takedowns and controlling Magomedov on the mat. Magomedov relied heavily on defensive scrambling, hand-fighting, and clinch resistance, but failed to threaten with meaningful submission attempts.

The slam and transitions showcased Tsarukyan’s elite grappling pedigree against a naturally heavier and physically strong opponent. The video of the Armenian picking up Magomedov and slamming him down has since gone viral on the internet. However, the absence of a submission or tap resulted in no official winner, causing confusion among fans and commentators afterward.

Ultimately, the match ended as a draw, despite Tsarukyan’s visible control, highlighting flaws within submission-only formats. Before the fight, both stars had gotten into a verbal beef with the Russian fighter discrediting Tsarukyan for his wealthy background. Tsarukyan bet an apartment while Magomedov promised a luxury watch, and the draw left fans curious about how wagers resolve.

Despite being from Dagestan, Magomedov isn’t known for his wrestling but has impressed fans with his striking. The fighter has often gone viral for his highlight reel finishes, especially the rare spinning backfist knockout at UFC 308. In his last bout, the Russian beat Marc-Andre Barriault via unanimous decision and is eager to climb the middleweight rankings. 

On the other hand, the bout marked Tsarukyan’s fifth grappling contest in 2025, alongside his recent high-profile UFC fight against Dan Hooker. The Armenian contender remains desperate to capture the UFC lightweight title, but top UFC officials remain unsupportive following the controversial UFC 311 mishap.

Arman Tsarukyan talks about a potential grappling match with Islam Makhachev 

At UFC 311, Arman Tsarukyan came agonizingly close to challenging Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title opportunity. Unfortunately, the matchup collapsed after Tsarukyan suffered an untimely injury, forcing him to withdraw and lose momentum.

Arman Tsarukyan doesn't think a grappling contest with Islam Makhachev is possible
Arman Tsarukyan doesn’t think a grappling contest with Islam Makhachev is possible (via X)

Following that setback, UFC CEO Dana White repeatedly denied Tsarukyan another immediate title shot opportunity despite fan pressure growing louder. Many fans criticized the decision, believing Tsarukyan had earned his chance through consistency, performances, and elite competition across the division.

Despite the frustration, Tsarukyan has remained resilient, insisting he will secure the lightweight title shot next year regardless of promotional obstacles. After his recent submission-only grappling match, he was questioned about competing against Islam Makhachev grappling under similar rules sets.

This grappling match with Islam won’t happen because Islam makes very big money in the UFC. I don’t think anybody can afford to pay him that amount of money.

Arman Tsarukyan via Red Corner MMA 

With Islam Makhachev moving up to welterweight and capturing gold, Arman Tsarukyan has shifted focus toward Ilia Topuria aggressively. Earlier, Topuria beat Charles Oliveira in dominant fashion to get the lightweight championship and was called out by Tsarukyan. The two fighters share genuine animosity, fueled by serious beef and multiple nasty online exchanges across social media platforms regularly.

However, the UFC announced UFC 324 featuring an interim lightweight championship bout between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje. The decision frustrated fans, as Arman Tsarukyan was overlooked again despite credentials. Nevertheless, it remains intriguing whether early 2026 finally delivers opportunity for redemption and long-awaited championship destiny for the Armenian. 

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