Arman Tsarukyan is stepping into the UFC Qatar spotlight next month, headlining a crucial one-on-one against Dan Hooker. The fight is high-stakes, as ‘Ahalkalakets’ continues his quest for a lightweight title shot, having nearly lost opportunities against Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. With the world watching, even off-the-mat comments can spark a debate, and Tsarukyan’s recent words are no exception.

The controversy revolves around his recent statement to Ariel Helwani: “My mother, no, she’s going to stay home. It’s a man’s sport, you know. Okay. A woman should be at home. I mean, I don’t know how my mom can come and watch my fight.” As expected, the words soon went viral online, with some seeing it as disrespectful of women who attend or participate in MMA events.

Why doesn’t Arman Tsarukyan have his mother at his UFC fights?

Arman Tsarukyan noted that his words came from the perspective of a concerned son, not as a general rule about women and MMA. ‘Ahalkalakets’ explained that his mother is unable to handle the strong action live, as he said, “It’s a lot of blood. Her son can get hurt, you know. I think it’s not a good place.”

In fact, the Armenian further added that his mother doesn’t even watch his fights when broadcast on television. “No, she doesn’t [watch on TV]. She’s just waiting for the result, and after that, maybe she’s just waiting. When I’m fighting, she’s just waiting for the result. Okay. She can’t watch.”

So, it clearly seems that his goal was to express concern for his mother’s comfort rather than to make a broader comment about women in sports. The Armenian fighter also told Ariel Helwani that his father will attend the event, indicating that his decision is personal and not a reflection of his feelings toward female fans.

And Tsaurkayn’s mother is not the only one with this concern. Islam Makahchev said something similar about his mom back in January- “My mom doesn’t watch my fights, I always tell her that my fights are very easy and she believes me, because she hasn’t watched my fights at all. When I came after fighting Poirier, she saw my forehead , she told me my fights are not easy….my mother crying asks me to stop fighting.” After UFC 311, he sent her a selfie mid-interview to assure her that he was alright!

So, Arman Tsarukyan‘s words rightfully highlight the emotional side of MMA, when family members frequently witness the physical risks their loved ones face in the cage. Despite the controversy, Arman Tsarukyan remains focused on the fight itself. UFC Qatar is a key opportunity for the Armenian star to establish his spot among the division’s top stars.

As the buildup continues, fans and media will keep a careful eye on ‘Ahalkalakets’, not just for his performance against Dan Hooker, but also for how he handles the attention that comes with being a top contender and a fighter with a strong family-oriented perspective. However, it is worth noting that this isn’t the first time that the Armenian has found himself surrounded by such controversy, but it seems like he is already working hard to fix all the negative press surrounding him.

Arman Tsarukyan apologizes for awkward interaction involving Kayla Harrison

Even as Arman Tsarukyan prepares for his UFC Qatar bout, he opened up about a previous incident that stirred misunderstanding and took a hit on his reputation. During a media appearance with teammate Kayla Harrison, a fan asked a crude question in Russian, asking if he would “throw sticks” at Harrison, a not-so-flattering metaphor of course.

As awkward as he was, ‘Ahalkalakets’ responded with, “I would throw a couple.” But according to him, it was widely misinterpreted, briefly putting him under unwanted scrutiny. Now, the Armenian fighter has acted quickly to correct the situation, showing accountability for the whole situation.

“Later, when we were at the event, I told him that this girl is here; go apologize to her… I only created hype for her. I realized there’s no point in arguing. I’m just a different person,” Tsarukyan explained. By addressing the fan and expressing his intentions, the Armenian aimed to make Kayla Harrison feel respected while protecting his reputation.

Looking back, Arman Tsarukyan agreed that the episode harmed his reputation, but he also offered a perspective on how to deal with such unpleasant situations in public. “Of course I felt sorry… I didn’t know what to answer at first. Saying at least a couple was my way of complimenting her,” he said.

For the Armenian fighter, the message was clear: his acts and words outside the cage matter as much as his in-cage performance that will define his career trajectory moving forward. But what do you think? Do you believe the clarification provided by ‘Ahalkalakets’? Let us know in the comments.