Russian wrestler Shovkhal Vardanyan has issued a wrestling challenge to UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan, offering him 500,000 rubles (approximately $5,000) if Tsarukyan can score a point within one minute. During a conversation captured on video by Nika Kelekhsashvili, Vardanyan confidently stated he would even give up a leg hold. Tsarukyan accepted the challenge, questioning whether Vardanyan believes he cannot score. The interaction appears to be a lighthearted callout related to Vardanyan's upcoming match with an Olympic champion.
Russian wrestler Shovkhal Vardanyan issued a public wrestling challenge to UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan on May 11, 2026, offering 500,000 rubles — roughly $5,000 — if Tsarukyan can score a single point against him within one minute.
The exchange was captured on video by Nika Kelekhsashvili, with Vardanyan adding an extra layer of confidence by stating he would concede a leg hold to Tsarukyan before the clock starts. Tsarukyan accepted, shooting back with a pointed question about whether Vardanyan truly believes he cannot find a way to score. The interaction carried a playful tone and appears connected to Vardanyan's preparation for an upcoming match against an Olympic champion.
Tsarukyan, 29, currently sits at number one in the UFC lightweight rankings, holding a professional MMA record of 23 wins and 3 losses. The Armenia-born Russian fights out of American Top Team and brings legitimate grappling credentials to the table alongside his striking. He averages 3.26 takedowns per fifteen minutes and lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a fifty-percent accuracy rate — numbers that reflect a well-rounded skill set rather than a pure striker being lured onto the mat.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight contender, so any public grappling exchange draws attention to his credentials on the ground
- Vardanyan's confident terms — offering a leg hold advantage — frame this as a direct test of Tsarukyan's wrestling base
- The lighthearted nature of the callout keeps it in entertainment territory for now, but Tsarukyan's acceptance means the challenge is live
