Arman Tsarukyan competed Friday in Dubai, but it wasn’t inside the octagon for the UFC lightweight contender. The Armenian entered the Karate Combat pit to grapple and defeat Dagestan’s Makkasharip Zaynukov.
Tsarukyan was the first to attack, working on a single leg takedown early on the pit corner, but Zaynukov successfully defended it. Both fighters failed to get any close to takedowns for the remaining of the round, and the same happened in round two. Tsarukyan shot for another single leg late in the round, and Zaynukov countered, but the UFC fighter quickly went back to his feet.
The judges unanimously gave Tsarukyan the advantage in both rounds, so there was no need for the third round. Tsarukyan was declared the winner via unanimous decision, and apologized for the lackluster match.
“I knew this fight was gonna be like this, boring,” Tsarukyan said after the win. “When two guys they know freestyle wrestling is difficult to takedown. If you bring MMA fighter versus jiu-jitsu guy is gonna be more ground game, you know? Sorry it was not too good for fans, but I hope you enjoyed it.
“I haven’t fought in one year and that’s why I came and wrestled today. My opponent was very hard guy. Nobody knows him a lot because he fights in Russia, but he’s from strong team and was tough.”
Victorious against a member of Islam Makhachev’s team, Tsarukyan asked for more.
“Can’t wait for next one,” Tsarukyan said. “I need one more guy from Khabib’s team. Let’s do this again.
The UFC has yet to announce Tsarukyan’s next move in the company. He was slated to rematch Makhachev for the 155-pound belt in January but withdrew from the match hours before the weigh-ins due to illness.
Victorious in nine of his 11 appearances inside the UFC cage, Tsarukyan is currently riding a four-fight winning streak in the UFC over Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Joaquim Silva and Damir Ismagulov.
Zaynukov won 11 of his past 12 in MMA, capped off by a decision over Dedrek Sanders in his PFL debut this past October to improve his MMA record to 16-4.
