Last week, UFC’s top-ranked lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan, shocked the MMA world with a surprising admission. Just weeks before the most important fight of his career—a title challenge against reigning champion Islam Makhachev—the Armenian revealed he was not “100% invested” in MMA. This revelation, coming ahead of the year’s first pay-per-view event left fans in a frenzy, raising questions about his focus and commitment to the sport.

Moreover, the upcoming fight is not just a title shot. It is also a golden opportunity for Tsarukyan to avenge his prior loss against the Dagestani that came in 2019. Despite being new to the promotion and unprepared, Tsarukyan took Makhachev down, ultimately losing by unanimous decision. Now, with a full training camp and significantly more experience under his belt, the Armenian’s second chance to face the Dagestani native has been overshadowed by his recent remarks.

As a result, critics have been quick to respond, with some accusing Tsarukyan of not taking MMA seriously, especially with a title shot on the line. UFC analyst Michael Bisping expressed his frustration on his podcast, Believe You Me. ‘The Count’ lashed out, stating, “If there is even a little bit of truth [to Tsarukyan’s statement], he loses to Islam Makhachev. Because you can’t. There’s one guy who is committed, there is one guy who pushes himself, and that’s Islam. In fact, that whole team—Eagle MMA.”

Furthermore, ‘The Count’ emphasized the well-established narrative surrounding Dagestani fighters like Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, highlighting their unparalleled commitment to training and discipline. He continued, “That’s all they do. They live and breathe the sport of mixed martial arts or wrestling or whatever it is. They are training pretty much 24/7.”

Interestingly, the former 185lbs champ’s observations appear validated by a recent Instagram post from ESPN MMA, which showed Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team lying on the gym floor, exhausted from an intense training session. The image of Khabib, sitting in the middle and seemingly preparing for yet another round, echoes the sentiment once shared by MMA legend Royce Gracie: “Those guys don’t think about anything else. They just train.”

However, while Bisping criticized Tsarukyan, co-host Paul Felder proposed an alternative perspective. Felder suggested that the Armenian’s statement could be a calculated “mental warfare” tactic aimed at unsettling the champ. This theory gained credibility when Tsarukyan, during an interview with a prominent media outlet, opened up about the sacrifices he endured throughout his years-long journey to earn a title shot. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the challenges Tsarukyan claims to have overcome to stand on the brink of capturing the title.

Arman Tsarukyan looks back on his “5-year journey” to earn a title shot

How can anyone not be “100% invested” in their game when a chance to make history for both themselves and their country is on the line? This is the very situation Arman Tsarukyan finds himself in with the upcoming UFC 311. He has the opportunity to make history by becoming the first Armenian fighter to claim a UFC title, or even just compete for it—an achievement no one from the ‘Land of Noah’ has ever reached. It’s a moment that could make his people and his home proud.

‘Ahalkalakets’ is leaving no stone unturned as he strives to end Makhachev’s stranglehold over the division. In an interview with Red Corner MMA, Tsarukyam reflected on his journey: “I realize the responsibility I have, and I’ve poured everything into this—my time, my money, my health, and everything else—to make it happen. It’s been five years since we fought, and time has flown by. I can’t believe it’s already been 10 fights, and I’m now the number one contender.”

What’s your take on Arman Tsarukyan’s admission that he wasn’t “100%” dedicated to MMA? Do you think there’s any truth to it? Is the Armenian playing mental warfare with Islam Makhachev, or is there some truth behind his confession? Share your thoughts below.