Arman Tsarukyan is one of the UFC's most feared lightweight wrestlers, and his flexibility training has left fans stunned. The Armenian standout, currently ranked number 2 in the UFC lightweight division, holds a Master of Sport ranking in freestyle wrestling and MMA, building his 24-3 professional record on suffocating takedown pressure. A viral 2024 training clip showed Tsarukyan contorting his body through extreme mobility drills ahead of UFC 311, with one welterweight calling it simply impressive and fans joking they'd found the internet's definition of thoracic mobility. Tsarukyan has credited the routine, along with Coach Cal's garage warmups, for improving his range of motion in striking, grappling, and defensive scrambles. Known for relentless flexibility and ferocious explosiveness, Tsarukyan remains one of combat sports' most physically gifted lightweights. #ufc #mma #armantsarukyan #viral
Arman Tsarukyan's mobility work has become a social media talking point. A 2024 training clip shows the UFC lightweight twisting through extreme flexibility drills in the build-up to UFC 311, and fans and fellow fighters have taken notice.
Tsarukyan, 24-3, is ranked number 2 in the UFC lightweight division. The 29-year-old trains out of American Top Team and fights from an orthodox stance. Standing five-foot-seven (170 cm) with a 72-inch (183 cm) reach, he is a Master of Sport in freestyle wrestling and MMA, and he has built his record on heavy takedown pressure.
That wrestling base shows up in his numbers. Tsarukyan averages 3.25 takedowns per 15 minutes, a high figure for the division. He is not one-dimensional on the feet either, landing 3.78 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. Submission attempts are a minor part of his game at 0.1 per 15 minutes, which underlines that his grappling is built around control and top pressure rather than finishing chokes.
The clip drew a mix of admiration and humor. One welterweight called the routine simply impressive, while fans joked that it was the internet's definition of thoracic mobility. Tsarukyan has credited the routine, along with Coach Cal's garage warmups, with improving his range of motion in striking, grappling and defensive scrambles.
Why it matters
- Mobility work supports the scrambling and defensive flexibility that top-level wrestlers need to survive bad positions and recover quickly.
- Tsarukyan sits one step from the top of the lightweight rankings, so any physical edge he can add carries weight in a crowded contender picture.
- His takedown output is the foundation of his style, and flexibility helps him chain attacks and avoid being caught in awkward exchanges.
The attention is a reminder that Tsarukyan's reputation rests on more than strength. His explosiveness and relentless pace are paired with unusual suppleness, a combination that fits his standing as one of the more physically gifted lightweights on the roster.
