UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and top contender Arman Tsarukyan were among the high-profile attendees at the World Cup final. Mike Tyson was also present at the match alongside the two UFC fighters. The appearance underscores the growing global visibility of MMA athletes at major international sporting events.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and top contender Arman Tsarukyan turned heads off the canvas on July 19, 2026, when both fighters were spotted in attendance at the World Cup final alongside boxing legend Mike Tyson.
Makhachev, 34, has established himself as one of the sport's dominant forces, holding the lightweight title with a professional record of 28 wins and just one loss. The Russian southpaw, who stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, trains out of Eagles MMA and is currently ranked number one pound-for-pound in the sport. Inside the cage he averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the most technically refined fighters in the world today.
Joining him in the stands was his lightweight division's top-ranked contender, Arman Tsarukyan, known by his nickname Ahalkalakets. The 29-year-old Russian holds a record of 23-3 and trains out of American Top Team. Standing five-foot-seven with an unusually long 72-inch reach, Tsarukyan is one of the division's most active strikers, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute and 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The public appearance of both the champion and the number-one contender at a global sporting spectacle highlights MMA's rapidly expanding international profile.
- Makhachev and Tsarukyan sharing the same high-profile space will inevitably fuel discussion about a potential meeting between the two in the near future.
- The presence of figures from both MMA and boxing at the World Cup final reflects the crossover appeal that combat sports now command on the world stage.
