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UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan ‘choked out’ alligator during South Florida fishing trip: ‘I got a license to kill’

UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan 'Choked Out' alligator during South Florida fishing trip: 'I got a license to kill' Ahead of his first shot at UFC gold, Arman Tsarukyan put his submission skills to the test against an…

Ahead of his first shot at UFC gold, Arman Tsarukyan put his submission skills to the test against an alligator during a fishing trip to the Everglades.

After scoring a big split decision victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April, ‘Ahalkalakets’ slid into the No. 1 spot in the lightweight rankings, putting him in pole position for a shot at the division’s reigning champion, Islam Makhachev.

Until then, Tsarukyan is out here in South Florida picking off gators.

Adding some context to the above image (originally shared on his Instagram), Tsarukyan revealed that he had literally “choked out” the alligator after trapping it with nothing more than a hook in the river.

“I choked him out,” Tsarukyan told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “I pulled him out from the river, choked him, and put him on my back. In Florida, I got a license to kill the alligator. You throw the hook in the river, the alligator got the hook and you got to pull it. We pulled two. Me and my friend we pulled one alligator. He was like seven or eight feet, but there is 12 feet, 13 feet alligators and hopefully, he was small. Maybe 50-70 pounds.

“Catch it without meat or anything. Just hook, empty hook. I kill a lot of animals, but I didn’t post it because other animals, it’s sad, but alligators, it’s okay” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Arman Tsarukyan Eyeing Fall 2024 for Islam Makhachev rematch

Including his win over ‘Do Bronx’ at the promotion’s landmark event, Arman Tsarukyan finds himself on a four-fight win streak kickstarted by a victory over Damir Ismagulov in December 2022. He followed that up with a pair of W’s against Joaquim Silva and Beneil Dariush before taking out the former 155-pound champ.

Tsarukyan has only lost twice inside the Octagon, one of those defeats coming during his promotional debut at the hands of Islam Makhachev. Five years later, it looks like the two will tussle one more time with Tsarukyan fighting for both legacy and redemption.

As of now, there is no announced date for the long-awaited rematch, but Tsarukyan told Helwani that it’ll either be October in Abu Dhabi, or November in New York.

UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan ‘choked out’ alligator during South Florida fishing trip: ‘I got a license to kill’

Ahead of his first shot at UFC gold, Arman Tsarukyan put his submission skills to the test against an…

Ahead of his first shot at UFC gold, Arman Tsarukyan put his submission skills to the test against an alligator during a fishing trip to the Everglades.

Until then, Tsarukyan is out here in South Florida picking off gators.

“I choked him out,” Tsarukyan told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “I pulled him out from the river, choked him, and put him on my back. In Florida, I got a license to kill the alligator. You throw the hook in the river, the alligator got the hook and you got to pull it. We pulled two. Me and my friend we pulled one alligator. He was like seven or eight feet, but there is 12 feet, 13 feet alligators and hopefully, he was small. Maybe 50-70 pounds.

“Catch it without meat or anything. Just hook, empty hook. I kill a lot of animals, but I didn’t post it because other animals, it’s sad, but alligators, it’s okay” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Arman Tsarukyan Eyeing Fall 2024 for Islam Makhachev rematch

As of now, there is no announced date for the long-awaited rematch, but Tsarukyan told Helwani that it’ll either be October in Abu Dhabi, or November in New York.

Arman Tsarukyan vows to land win over Islam Makhachev in title rematch: ‘It would be a very easy fight for me’

Surging lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan has vowed to prevail in a future rematch against undisputed champion, Islam Makhachev –…

Surging lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan has vowed to prevail in a future rematch against undisputed champion, Islam Makhachev – claiming a re-run with the Russian would be a “very easy” fight for him, after his viewing of UFC 302.

Tsarukyan, the current number one ranked divisional contender, has been sidelined since April, turning in a close split decision win over former champion and common-foe, Charles Oliveira in the pair’s officially billed title eliminator.

And immediately turning down a UFC 302 title fight with Makhachev on short-notice, Tsarukyan admitted he would lay in wait for his shot at the American kickboxing Academy staple who would go on to headline the same event.

Successfully defending his divisional title for the third time, Makhachev wrapped up an eventual fifth round D’Arce choke win Dustin Poirier – with fellow American Top Team ace, Tsarukyan claiming his stablemate simply “gave up” in his title fight defeat.

Arman Tsarukyan expects “easy” rematch with Islam Makhachev

And staking his claim for a shot at Makhachev – who admittedly has an eye on a jump to the welterweight class, Tsarukyan claims if the same champion who showed up against Poirier faces off with him in a rematch, he would land the title rather easily.

“It would be a very easy fight for me,” Arman Tsarukyan told MMA Fighting of a rematch with Islam Makhachev. “I could out-wrestle him that fight as well, because he got tired. When you’re tired, you can’t do sh*t. Even if you have the best skills in the world, if you’re tired, you’re done.”

“All his five round fights he got tired as well,” Arman Tsarukyan explained. “He got tired versus (Alexander) Volkanovski, he got tired versus Dustin (Poirier). Hopefully that’s going to be my key to win this fight, because of my cardio.”

Facing off with Makhachev in a short-notice promotional debut back in 2019 in St. Petersburg, Russia – Tsarukyan suffered a unanimous decision defeat to the former.

Who wins in a future lightweight title rematch: Islam Makahchev or Arman Tsarukyan?

Arman Tsarukyan vows to land win over Islam Makhachev in title rematch: ‘It would be a very easy fight for me’

Surging lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan has vowed to prevail in a future rematch against undisputed champion, Islam Makhachev –…

Arman Tsarukyan expects “easy” rematch with Islam Makhachev

Facing off with Makhachev in a short-notice promotional debut back in 2019 in St. Petersburg, Russia – Tsarukyan suffered a unanimous decision defeat to the former.

Who wins in a future lightweight title rematch: Islam Makahchev or Arman Tsarukyan?

Arman Tsarukyan claims Dustin Poirier ‘Gave up’ in title fight loss at UFC 302: ‘I wouldn’t just give up’

Arman Tsarukyan says Dustin Poirier was mentally broken which is why he gave up in the fifth round against…

Arman Tsarukyan says Dustin Poirier was mentally broken which is why he gave up in the fifth round against Islam Makhachev.

Poirier was headlining UFC 302 against Makhachev for the lightweight title and in the lead-up to the fight, ‘The Diamond’ had said this would be his final shot at becoming the undisputed champion.

Although Poirier had moments in the fight, he ended up getting submitted in the fifth round and Tsarukyan believes ‘The Diamond’ gave up once it got back to the ground in the final round.

“The first round went to Makhachev,” Tsarukyan told Outside MMA (via MMAMania). “I thought, ‘Damn, this Poirier is a complete sack.’ Then I saw that Poirier turned on, and Islam got tired and the fight became more interesting. Dustin Poirier surprised me. To be honest, I was more surprised by Islam, why he got tired so quickly and couldn’t fight.

Arman Tsarukyan feels that Dustin Poirier gave up and was mentally broken late in the fight against Islam Makhachev at #UFC302

"The first round went to Makhachev and I thought 'Damn, this Poirier is a complete sack'…

I wonder where [Islam] found the strength to choke. But I… pic.twitter.com/idFJcJMorT

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 4, 2024

“As we know, Islam doesn’t breathe that well in five round fights,” he continued. “This is the second five-round fight and he’s giving away the endings. I wonder where Islam found the strength to choke, but I have a feeling that Poirier just gave up. In terms of being mentally broken. There were 2.5 minutes left. Why are you giving up your neck? Well, endure it, get over it, do something, but don’t give up. There are 2.5 minutes left, your last fight, this is the most important and last fight in your life. You take it and just give it away. I wouldn’t just give it up.”

Dustin Poirier suffered rib injury two weeks before UFC 302 title fight he couldn't wrestle or grapple

Despite Arman Tsarukyan thinking Dustin Poirier gave up at UFC 302, ‘The Diamond’ put up a much better performance than most thought he would.

Dustin Poirier hints at retirement after UFC 302

Following Dustin Poirier losing by fifth-round submission to Islam Makhachev, ‘The Diamond’ hinted at this being his final fight.

In the lead-up to the bout, Poirier said this could be his final fight and after the result, he wouldn’t confirm it would be it but his last fight, bu says it is something he will think about.

“I mean I know I can compete with the best of these guys. It’s just like if I do fight again, what am I fighting for? Just to fight? I’ve done that 50 times,” Poirier said to Joe Rogan after the fight. “I don’t know, I got a beautiful girl I love and I gotta see. I think this could be it honestly.”

If Poirier does retire after UFC 302 he would end his career with a record of 30-9 and a one No Contest.

Arman Tsarukyan’s fight purse withheld by NSAC after fan incident at UFC 300, faces disciplinary action

Arman Tsarukyan is facing disciplinary action following an altercation with a fan at UFC 300. As ‘Ahalkalakets’ made his…

Arman Tsarukyan is facing disciplinary action following an altercation with a fan at UFC 300.

As ‘Ahalkalakets’ made his way to the Octagon for his main card clash with former lightweight world champion Charles Oliveira at the landmark event in Las Vegas, Tsarukyan engaged in a brief scuffle with a fan in the crowd. Video of the incident quickly made its way online, showing the 155-pound contender throwing a punch at someone seated near the entryway.

“He showed me ‘F*ck you’ and he wanted to punch me and I wanted to punch him back,” Tsarukyan explained at the post-fight press conference. “That’s it. So guys, no one show me ‘F*ck you.’ It doesn’t matter who you are, I’m going to punch you in the face.”

Unfortunately, it looks like Tsarukyan’s physical retaliation is going to cost him.

Per a report from Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, Tsarukyan’s fight purse was $158,000, of which 20% — or $31,600 — is being withheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission until a full disciplinary hearing can be held in May. In addition to a potential fine, ‘Ahalkalakets’ could also face suspension by the NSAC.

The commission did note that the fan involved in the incident opted not to press charges and has also made it clear that he has no intention of suing the UFC.

Arman Tsarukyan isn’t the only fighter facing disciplinary action following UFC 300

Before Arman Tsarukyan’s viral incident, Diego Lopes delivered a highlight-reel knockout on the night, dispatching Sodiq Yusuff in the opening round of their preliminary bout.

Lopes walked away with $100,000, but $5,000 of that is now being withheld by the NSAC after Lopes hopped over the Octagon wall to greet UFC CEO Dana White — something he was specifically advised not to do.

The NSAC commissioner claims that White permitted Lopes to exit the cage and that the UFC CEO allegedly said, “I will pay his fine.”

The commission will review video evidence of each incident, specifically the incident with Tsarukyan, before levying a decision on both matters.