Arman Tsarukyan defeated Beneil Dariush with a first-round knockout in the UFC Austin main event, marking his third consecutive win and solidifying his status as a contender in the lightweight division.
Arman Tsarukyan just sent shockwaves through the lightweight division. He did this by flooring Beneil Dariush with a first-round knockout in the UFC Austin main event. It was a statement that a new contender had arrived.
Tsarukyan has long been seen as a prospect on the brink of title contention. He’s been itching for his chance to shine against a top-ranked opponent. And when he faced Dariush, that’s exactly what he did. The guy was brimming with confidence from the get-go, trading shots with Dariush like it was nothing.
The knockout punch? It came after Tsarukyan threw a knee that just missed its mark. But he followed that with a massive right hand. That punch snapped Dariush’s head around like a top. Dariush went down, and Tsarukyan followed up with a few more punches until the ref stepped in.
The fight was over just 1:04 into the first round. Talk about a quick finish.
“I was expecting a knockout,” Tsarukyan said after his win. The guy doesn’t like winning by decision. He wanted to put on a show, knock Dariush out, and then go home and angle for a title fight. He even thanked Dariush, calling him one of the most respectful fighters in their division.
Tsarukyan’s got skills. He can wrestle, grapple, and strike. He knew he could knock Dariush out, and he spent the whole day thinking about it. And when the fight started, he was measured with his combinations, inviting Dariush to stand and trade with him.
Dariush threw a couple of strong kicks early on, but Tsarukyan was ready. Once he found his range, he threw a knee up the middle. Dariush managed to duck his head out of the way, but Tsarukyan followed up with a right hand that ended Dariush’s night.
This win is Tsarukyan’s third in a row. He’ll likely move up the rankings after such a statement performance against a veteran like Dariush. In an ideal world, he’d get a rematch with the current UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev. Tsarukyan faced Makhachev in his octagon debut back in 2019.
“Hopefully, the next fight is going to be for the title,” Tsarukyan said. But even if it’s not, he’s not worried. He’s confident that he’ll be a champion. He’s also confident that he can take down Makhachev. They fought four years ago when Tsarukyan was just 22. Now he’s 27 and has improved a lot. He’s sure the next fight will be different. He’s going to knock Makhachev out. No doubt about it.