Arman Tsarukyan has extensively trained for and competed in the RAF as of late, which he believes has helped him evolve as a fighter.<\/p>\n
Arman Tsarukyan has suggested that competing in miscellaneous combat sports contests, outside the confines of MMA, has helped him evolve as an MMA fighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The perennial UFC<\/a> lightweight contender has also put forth his views on a potential rematch against former UFC lightweight titlist and reigning UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.\u00a0<\/p>\n Arman Tsarukyan explains how wrestling in the RAF has benefitted his MMA fighting career<\/p>\n Arman Tsarukyan partook in the UFC 331 press conference, wherein he addressed various topics, including his imminent return to the Octagon against Mauricio Ruffy next month.\u00a0<\/p>\n Additionally, during a conversation with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn amid the fanfare surrounding his fight announcement, Tsarukyan was questioned about how his wrestling matches and other non-MMA sports contests have helped him improve as an MMA fighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tsarukyan seemingly referenced his submission grappling matches and stated, “I improve my grappling. So I used to spar, and I cannot submit a lot of people. But right now, I submit every rounds. And I improve it, especially in the grappling.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Underlining how freestyle wrestling training for and competition in the Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling organization has benefitted him, he added, “And then RAF came. I started wrestling, and now, like, when I’m in the clinch or taking legs, or shoot double-leg takedown, it’s way better than before. So I improve my freestyle wrestling as well.”\u00a0<\/p>\n He continued, “So now it’s time to work on my boxing. Maybe after this fight, (UFC CEO and president) Dana (White) let me to box. And then I improve my boxing, too.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Furthermore, he learned about his longtime rival Islam Makhachev’s recent revelation about a conversation with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. Makhachev had implied that Zuffa Boxing co-founder Alalshikh wanted to book him in a boxing match against former two-division UFC champion\u00a0Conor McGregor<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n For context, Makhachev made the aforementioned assertion while speaking on the UFC Eurasia channel. UFC CEO and president and Zuffa Boxing co-founder Dana White was reportedly uninterested in booking the Makhachev vs. McGregor boxing match.\u00a0<\/p>\n Arman Tsarukyan on potential rematch against Islam Makhachev in boxing or MMA<\/p>\n In regard to Islam Makhachev’s potential foray into boxing, Arman Tsarukyan alluded to their rematch in MMA not coming to fruition. He was beaten by unanimous decision in a lightweight clash against Makhachev back in 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Armenian-Russian combatant was eventually scheduled to fight Makhachev in a rematch when the latter was the UFC lightweight champion. It was back in January of last year. But an injury-induced fight-week withdrawal cast Tsarukyan out of the matchup.\u00a0<\/p>\n