Arman Tsarukyan won the UFC Austin main event against Beneil Dariush and expressed amusement at Bobby Green‘s knockout loss, following a confrontation between the two earlier in the week; Tsarukyan also called for a fight with either lightweight champion Islam Makhachev or top contender Justin Gaethje.
Arman Tsarukyan had a big night at UFC Austin. He scored a major win in the main event, but something else already had him grinning from ear to ear.
The co-main event wasn’t the only source of Tsarukyan’s joy. His knockout victory over Beneil Dariush was a career highlight, no doubt about it. However, the buzz leading up to the big night was about his face-off with Bobby Green. This wasn’t your usual pre-fight hype, though.
This showdown happened at the fighter hotel. Bobby Green took to social media, claiming Tsarukyan and his crew had confronted him. A video of the encounter surfaced later, showing Tsarukyan grabbing Green’s throat and a brawl with Tsarukyan’s team.
Fight night told a different story. Tsarukyan triumphed over Dariush, while Green suffered a brutal knockout loss to Jalin Turner. The contrast couldn’t be more stark.
Asked about the Green incident, Tsarukyan confessed that seeing Green get KO’d gave him a chuckle. “He was talking s*** about me,” Tsarukyan admitted. He explained that he simply asked Green not to badmouth him, a request that escalated into a physical confrontation.
Tsarukyan was especially pleased when Green’s head hit the canvas. “I was super, super happy,” he confessed.
Tsarukyan’s confidence seems unshakeable, regardless of Green’s words or actions. His main event performance speaks volumes. He dominated the more experienced Dariush, landing a crushing right hand for his third consecutive win and eighth in his last nine fights.
He attributes his strong mindset to his preparation. “Maybe I was born confident,” Tsarukyan mused. He trains hard, surrounded by the best fighters in the world, and it fuels his confidence.
After his victory, Tsarukyan called out lightweight champion Islam Makhachev or top contender Justin Gaethje. While a title shot might not be in the cards just yet, his challenge to Makhachev makes sense given their history. Tsarukyan debuted in UFC against Makhachev in 2019 and suffered a decision loss, a result he’s confident won’t repeat if they face off again.
“I always think of the best-case scenario and I feel like I can knock [Makhachev] out in the first round,” Tsarukyan declared. He believes in thinking positively, not dwelling on the worst-case scenario.