You have to hand it to Arman Tsarukyan—this guy refuses to sit still. Most fighters, after pulling out of a massive title fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 311, would’ve stayed quiet, healed up, and waited for the next call from the UFC. Not Arman. Instead, he’s been out there clowning around on social media, dropping skits to poke at Ilia Topuria, and now… he’s gone and done something that has the MMA world buzzing again.

Because here’s the thing: while fans keep asking when Tsarukyan will get his shot at UFC gold, the lightweight contender just headlined a grappling card in Moscow—and his opponent wasn’t some unknown up-and-comer. It was a former UFC champion. And let’s just say, Arman made sure everyone remembered why he’s the No. 1 contender in the world’s toughest division.

Arman Tsarukyan’s grappling skills take center stage

If you missed yesterday’s grappling showcase, Arman Tsarukyan left quite an impression. Facing an opponent 13 years his senior, the UFC’s No. 2 lightweight contender put Benson Henderson to sleep with a tight arm-triangle choke after the former champ refused to tap. Henderson quickly came to, and the two shared a warm embrace in a moment of mutual respect. Riding high off the victory, Uncrowned shared the finishing sequence on X with the caption: “Arman Tsarukyan subs Benson Henderson via arm triangle. His 3rd consecutive grappling win since cancelled fight against Islam at UFC 311 👀.”

Tsarukyan’s recent foray into grappling has turned heads, considering it wasn’t long ago that his focus was strictly on climbing the UFC ladder. The run began back in May at Karate Combat 54, when he outpointed Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammate, Makasharip Zaynukov, in a five-round contest. Just weeks later, the 28-year-old returned to the mat at ADXC 10, where he notched another submission win, choking out Bellator veteran Patricky Pitbull with a slick rear-naked choke.

And now, with his latest victory over Henderson, fans are starting to wonder if Arman Tsarukyan’s grappling detours are finally coming to an end. While his skills on the mat are undeniable, the anticipation for his next UFC appearance continues to build.

Fans concerned Arman Tsarukyan is wasting his Prime outside the octagon

“That was tight! He went to sleep almost immediately,” one fan wrote after Arman Tsarukyan’s arm-triangle finish on Benson Henderson. The Armenian contender wasted no time hunting for submissions against the 41-year-old veteran, who managed to fend them off until the closing moments. But Tsarukyan’s persistence paid off, as he locked in the choke, slid into position, and cranked tighter with every second until Henderson went limp. The referee quickly stepped in, and Tsarukyan helped a dazed but recovering Henderson back to his feet in a show of respect.

Another fan turned the conversation toward the bigger picture, writing, “He would do the same thing to Ilia, that’s why Dana won’t make the fight. He’s wanting Ilia vs Paddy, he knows Arman ruins them plans.” While Paddy Pimblett currently sits at No. 7 in the lightweight rankings, fans are already imagining the possibility of him facing Ilia Topuria, the reigning lightweight champion. The hype around Topuria vs. Tsarukyan remains strong, but there’s also growing chatter about Topuria vs. Pimblett, a clash that would match two young, dangerous fighters with huge fan followings, something UFC president Dana White is well aware of.

Impressed by the slickness of Arman Tsarukyan’s submission, another fan commented, “Wow, that was a slick submission! Reminds me of the grappling breakdowns Sean Daniels Live does after these events.” Daniels has built a reputation for detailed breakdowns of fight techniques, highlighting the subtleties that make moves like Tsarukyan’s arm-triangle so effective. For some fans, Tsarukyan’s precision on the mat looked like something straight out of one of those breakdowns, reinforcing just how sharp his ground game has become.

However, not every reaction was glowing, though. “Sad such a great talent. He blew it vs Islam. All he had to do was come in shape and make weight. I think he’s a skilled fighter but respect the UFC for icing him,” one user wrote, referencing Tsarukyan’s missed opportunity at UFC 311. Another fan added, “Wasting his career doing this tbh,” arguing that while his grappling wins are impressive, a fighter with Arman Tsarukyan’s talent should be laser-focused on chasing UFC gold rather than side matches.

The comments highlight the split in fan opinion – while some see these grappling bouts as proof of his elite skill set, others worry they may delay his long-awaited title shot. As for Arman Tsarukyan, he may have no choice but to take whatever Dana White puts on the table, and only time will tell how things play out for both lightweights. That said, what did you make of Tsarukyan’s performance?