Arman Tsarukyan Wants More Five-Round Experience, Targets ‘Big Name’ Opponents

While beating someone like Damir Ismagulov might not move the needle in the eyes of the casual fan, Arman Tsarukyan was well aware of the significance of his latest victory.

Tsarukyan relied on takedowns and clinch work to end Ismagulov’s 19-bout professional winning streak in the UFC Fight Night 216 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The American Top Team-trained Russian took his opponent’s back in both the second and third rounds, but a finish didn’t materialize.

“I felt like if I get his back I’m going to choke him right away because I heard he doesn’t have good wrestling, grappling. But today I understood he’s tough on the ground too, and it’s difficult to hold him there,” Tsarukyan said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “He was really good. Nobody stopped him or knocked him out in the UFC. Nobody [beat] him in the UFC, and I’m the first guy who beat him here. I think it’s a big fight for me and big name. Yeah, he’s not in the Top 5 but he’s tougher than top fighters.”

While both Tsarukyan and Ismagulov have crafted solid resumes within the Las Vegas-based promotion, it has been difficult to find fights against high-profile opponents who are above them in the rankings.

“Of course, it’s big business and they know I’m gonna beat the guys in the Top 5,” Tsarukyan said. “Me and Damir, we don’t choose opponents. For example, I think we have to fight with each other … One day I’m going to fight with big names. Hopefully next fight will be a big name.”

Tsarukyan is aiming high in that regard. Islam Makhachev, who defeated Tsarukyan in his UFC debut, is scheduled to defend his belt against reigning 145-pound king Alexander Volkanovski in February. In a perfect world, Tsarukyan has a couple ideal matchups in mind as the title picture unfolds.

“My goal is to [beat] everybody the UFC gives me and it doesn’t matter who it’s gonna be,” he said. “I would like to have my next fight [against] Charles Oliveira or [Beneil] Dariush. Because I deserve to have a big name. They don’t have a fight now and I’m ready.”

If the promotion comes through with a desired name, Tsarukyan says he could make a relatively quick turnaround. But if it’s another high-risk, low-reward type of fight like Ismagulov, he doesn’t mind waiting.

“I don’t get injured, I feel good,” Tsarukyan said. “I’m young and I can cut weight. If the UFC offered me a big fight, I’m going to be ready in two months. But if they’re going to offer me someone from the top 15, I’m not going to fight.

“I’m going to wait like a little bit, improve my skills and go to [American Top Team] to train with my coach, because last camp I had in Thailand because I didn’t have a visa. He got mad. This time, I’ve got to go to Miami, ATT, and train with him for a long time to choke everybody. This time, I made some mistakes in grappling and I’m going to improve it and we’re going to choke everybody.”

Regardless of what the future holds, Tsarukyan would like another opportunity for a five-round fight. The first time around, he came up short in a closely-contested unanimous decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot at UFC on ESPN 38 this past June. On Saturday, Tsarukyan believes he could have put a finishing stamp on his victory over Ismagulov with an additional two rounds.

“I am happy. Dominant every round. I wanted to finish him. I tried to choke him, but he was tough. All the time I want to finish my opponents…if I had five rounds for sure I would submit him,” Tsarukyan said. “I didn’t have enough time. He got tired in the third round, and I started to feel it. I tried to find a submission but I couldn’t do it. I think I did a good job. I would like to have 25 minutes. I already had that experience.

“I would like to have one more time because my last experience with 25 minutes, I made some mistakes. I started to go very fast like I had three rounds, but I had five rounds. But I talked with my coaches, I was very emotional that fight. But I would like to have my next fight at five rounds because I know my conditioning is good and I can make tired everybody and choke [them] to end the fight.”