Arman Tsarukyan defeated Ankit Baiyanpuria by armbar in a grappling match at a tournament in Yerevan, defending the Hype FC title. Following the victory, Tsarukyan issued a callout to Dillon Danis. Baiyanpuria is a former wrestler and one of India's most prominent fitness influencers, who retired from competition due to a shoulder injury.
Arman Tsarukyan added a grappling title defense to his résumé on August 1, submitting Indian fitness influencer and former wrestler Ankit Baiyanpuria via armbar at a Hype FC tournament held in Yerevan. After the victory, Tsarukyan called out Dillon Danis.
Tsarukyan, ranked second in the UFC lightweight division, carries a professional MMA record of 23-3 and competes out of American Top Team. The 29-year-old Russian fighter stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and brings a well-rounded offensive game to every outing, averaging 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy, while also threatening on the mat with 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. The armbar finish on display in Yerevan is a rarer weapon for Tsarukyan — he averages just 0.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes in MMA competition — making the finish a notable showcase of his ground game.
Baiyanpuria brought a background in wrestling to the grappling format but had previously stepped away from competitive action due to a shoulder injury. He is widely recognized across India primarily as one of the country's most prominent fitness influencers rather than as an active combat sports competitor.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout of Dillon Danis keeps his name in headlines outside the UFC octagon and signals ambition beyond MMA competition.
- Winning a grappling title defense in front of a home-region crowd in Yerevan reinforces Tsarukyan's profile in Armenia and across the broader combat sports community.
- As the number-two ranked lightweight in the UFC, any high-profile activity — even outside the organization — draws attention to where he fits in a stacked 155-pound picture.
