Prime UFC light-weight contender Arman Tsarukyan shares his ideas on the dynamics behind the promotion’s largest occasion. He spoke on the Patrick Bett David podcast this week and cited previous rivalries as proof. Tsarukyan claimed that UFC officers favor build-up over in-cage motion.
Arman Tsarukyan leaked: UFC needs drama, not fights
“That is good for the UFC. You suppose they did not prefer it? They appreciated it…This sport bought greater, not due to the fights, however due to the drama. Like Conor (McGregor), Khabib (Nurmagomedov), (Nate) Diaz…trash discuss, every thing.
“It is not simply the struggle, it is what occurs earlier than the struggle. The (McGregor) bus factor was talked about too. In order that struggle (towards Nurmagomedov) was the largest struggle within the UFC. If it hadn’t been for the struggle earlier than that, yeah, Conor-Khabib, they talked trash within the press convention, they fought, and it is over.” (Ht BJPenn)
He instantly introduced up Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Their struggle at UFC 229 in 2018 had 2.4 million pay-per-view buys, a file that also stands. Just a few months in the past, McGregor used a steel dolly to smash the window of a bus carrying Nurmagomedov throughout a promotional occasion for UFC 223 in New York. The clip went viral on-line, sparking dialog in regards to the title struggle.
Tsarukyan mentioned the UFC welcomes such enthusiasm. “That is good for the UFC. You suppose they did not prefer it? They did,” he famous. He talked about Nate Diaz’s title together with McGregor and Nurmagomedov, including that the game grows by way of moments like that. Diaz constructed a fan base together with his willingness to select a struggle with anybody, from press conferences to avenue fights, which saved him all through his years of foremost occasions.
Tsarukyan tied it into his match week routine. The idle discuss of urgent and weighing attracts the attention earlier than the gloves even contact them. Analysis on UFC occasions backs him up: Extra profanity at fighter exchanges has to do with PPV gross sales and social media buzz. The rivalry turns informal viewers into patrons, as McGregor criticized Nurmagomedov’s faith, household and crew in his first press convention.
His personal path suits that sample. Tsarukyan withdrew from his title struggle towards Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 final January the day earlier than the weigh-in. He slapped a fan throughout a strike at UFC 300 in 2024 and was fined $25,000 and suspended for 9 months. Final November, he headbutted Dan Hooker in a showdown earlier than the primary occasion of UFC Qatar. Daniel Cormier final week warned Tsarukyan that such conduct might jeopardize his title shot after he dragged Uriah Faber off the stage throughout a latest wrestling match.
However Tsarukyan does not see any draw back. He simply beat Faber in Actual American Freestyle and is busy grappling whereas ready for his flip within the UFC. The UFC gave him the interim light-weight belt given to Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje, and Dana White cited his historical past. Tsarukyan thinks this drama can solely assist, in the identical approach that McGregor’s bus assault made watching UFC 229 inevitable.
Followers are divided on his views. Some folks skip the leisure and simply watch the sport. Some consider that MMA’s rise to the mainstream was resulting from promotional efforts.
