Arman Tsarukyan drops 'Akhalkalakets' nickname, will now fight as 'Batman'

Arman Tsarukyan is stepping into his next UFC appearance under a new name — or at least a new nickname. The lightweight contender has officially retired the moniker "Akhalkalakets" and will henceforth be introduced by Bruce Buffer as "Batman."

Tsarukyan revealed the switch in an interview with Ariel Helwani, explaining that fans had already been calling him Batman organically, and he opted for the shorter version over the more literal "Armenian Batman." The old nickname was a nod to Akhalkalaki, the Georgian city where he was born — a meaningful tag he has carried through much of his MMA career but has now chosen to leave behind.

At 29 years old, Tsarukyan has built one of the more compelling resumes in the lightweight division. The Russia-based American Top Team product holds a professional record of 23-3 and sits at number two in the UFC lightweight rankings, making him one of the nearest challengers to the division's throne. He stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. His output inside the cage backs up his reputation: he averages 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, and he is a genuine threat on the mat as well, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Buffer's introduction will make the new nickname official in the eyes of casual and hardcore fans alike
• "Akhalkalakets" carried strong regional identity; the rebrand signals Tsarukyan is cultivating a broader, more global image
• At number two in the lightweight rankings, Tsarukyan remains in the title conversation, meaning the "Batman" name could soon be attached to a championship fight