Arman Tsarukyan weighs in on potentially welcoming Usman Nurmagomedov if he signs with the UFC 👀 #UFC331 #UFC #MMA | Saturday | Stream TNT Sports on HBO Max #usmannurmagomedov #armantsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan has made clear he would have no objection to facing Usman Nurmagomedov inside the Octagon, should the undefeated Russian star make the move to the UFC.
Tsarukyan, currently ranked second in the UFC's lightweight division, voiced his openness to a potential matchup with Nurmagomedov in comments that surfaced ahead of UFC 331. The 29-year-old from Russia trains out of American Top Team and carries a record of 23 wins and 3 losses. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he has established himself as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the 155-pound class, averaging 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy while also threatening consistently on the mat with 3.26 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, remains unbeaten at 22-0 and currently competes outside the UFC. The 27-year-old Russian stands five-foot-eleven with a 71-inch reach and holds a pound-for-pound ranking of 14 in the UFC's official listings despite not yet fighting for the promotion. His reputation is built primarily on grappling dominance, though no signing with the UFC has been announced at this stage.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan sits one step from a lightweight title shot, making any high-profile matchup at 155 pounds significant for the division's landscape
- Nurmagomedov's unbeaten record and pound-for-pound recognition would make his UFC debut an immediate event-level attraction
- A matchup between two elite Russian lightweights would carry considerable stylistic intrigue, with Tsarukyan's striking volume and takedown output tested against Nurmagomedov's undefeated grappling pedigree
- No deal between Nurmagomedov and the UFC has been confirmed, meaning this remains a hypothetical at present
