UFC’s #2 lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan (23-3) has confirmed his next UFC fight, but it will take place outside the Octagon on the mats, as he will compete in a UFC BJJ match for a championship in August or September.
Tsarukyan revealed that the matchup follows a public challenge from the inaugural and reigning bantamweight UFC BJJ champ, Mikey Musumeci, earlier this year. Musumeci offered to move up in weight to test Tsarukyan’s wrestling base in a submission-only format. Tsarukyan noted that according to UFC BJJ regulations, he must compete in at least one standard match before he is eligible to challenge for a championship.
Yeah, it’s a real thing, it’s probably gonna be in August or September, so, I wanna do that, I gotta do one grappling before him because it’s new rules, I’ve gotta see how it works,” Tsarukyan said
Adding to his packed schedule, Tsarukyan also hinted at a potential WWE appearance around the same May 30 weekend. Arman has fought 7 times since his last UFC appearance, most recently a win over Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar last November, as he stays active while waiting for a UFC title shot. While he has called for a fight against UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, Arman has also teased a move down to featherweight to face the champion Alexander Volkanovski.