Arman Tsarukyan, the top-ranked UFC light-weight contender, laid out his tackle what drives the promotion’s greatest occasions. He spoke on Patrick Wager-David‘s podcast this week, pointing to previous rivalries as proof. Tsarukyan argued that UFC officers favor the buildup over the motion contained in the cage.
Arman Tsarukyan Spills: UFC Desires Drama Not Fights
“It’s good for the UFC. You suppose they didn’t prefer it? They preferred it… The game is getting large due to drama, not due to combating. Like Conor [McGregor], Khabib [Nurmagomedov], [Nate] Diaz… the trash speak, every thing.
“Not simply combating, however what’s occurring earlier than the combat. The [McGregor] bus factor went viral too. Due to that, that combat [with Nurmagomedov] was the most important combat within the UFC. If it wasn’t for the battle earlier than that, yeah, Conor-Khabib, they speak s**t within the press convention, they combat, it’s gone.”[Ht BJPenn]
He introduced up Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov immediately. Their 2018 conflict at UFC 229 drew 2.4 million pay-per-view buys, a file that also stands. Months earlier, McGregor smashed a metallic dolly via the window of a bus carrying Nurmagomedov throughout UFC 223 promo occasions in New York. The clip unfold quick on-line and ramped up speak for his or her title combat.
Tsarukyan stated the UFC welcomed that form of warmth. “It’s good for the UFC. You suppose they didn’t prefer it? They preferred it,” he famous. He added that the game grows via these moments, naming Nate Diaz alongside McGregor and Nurmagomedov as examples. Diaz constructed a fanbase on his willingness to scrap with anybody, from press conferences to avenue fights, which saved him related via years of major occasions.
Tsarukyan tied it again to combat week routines. Trash speak at pressers and weigh-ins pulls in eyes earlier than gloves contact. Research on UFC occasions again him up: Extra profanity in fighter exchanges hyperlinks to increased PPV gross sales and social media buzz. Rivalries flip informal viewers into consumers, as seen with McGregor calling out Nurmagomedov’s faith, household, and staff throughout their first press convention.
His personal path suits the sample. Tsarukyan pulled out of a title bout in opposition to Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 final January, someday earlier than weigh-ins. He slapped a fan throughout his walkout at UFC 300 in 2024, incomes a $25,000 high quality and nine-month ban. Final November, he headbutted Dan Hooker at a faceoff earlier than their UFC Qatar major occasion. Daniel Cormier warned him final week that such strikes threat title pictures, after Tsarukyan dragged Urijah Faber off-stage in a latest wrestling match.
But Tsarukyan sees no draw back. He simply beat Faber at Actual American Freestyle and retains busy with grappling whereas awaiting his UFC flip. UFC handed him over for light-weight interim belts given to Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje, with Dana White citing his historical past. Tsarukyan figures the drama solely helps, very like the McGregor bus assault made UFC 229 unavoidable viewing.
Followers cut up on his view. Some tune in for the fights alone and skip the sideshows. Others credit score promo antics for MMA’s mainstream bounce.
