Arman Tsarukyan will be on the set of Hype
Reality 3 with Khamzat Chimaev, and says he’ll ask Khamzat to help
him prepare for Islam Makhachev đź‘€“To be honest, [Khamzat] is there [on the set] and if there is an
opportunity to train with him, it would be good. Since he is tall…
pic.twitter.com/gQxWa28vPP— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
July 14, 2024
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Arman
Tsarukyan welcomes an opportunity to train with Khamzat
Chimaev to prepare for a potential clash against Islam
Makhachev.
Tsarukyan earned his ninth win in 11 promotional outings with a
split decision over Charles
Oliveira at UFC
300 this past April to earn a title shot against Makhachev.
However, Tsarukyan, who dropped a unanimous decision against
Makhachev in his UFC debut in 2019, turned down a rematch at
UFC
302 last month due to the quick turnaround from his win over
Oliveira.
Tsarukyan was also fined $25,000 and issued a nine-month suspension
for throwing a punch at a fan at UFC 300. However, the Georgian’s
ban will be reduced to six months upon participation in an
anti-bullying campaign, making him eligible to compete by Oct. 12.
That’s just two weeks before UFC 308,
where Makhachev is expected to defend his strap next.
Tsarukyan recently told Sport 24 that he expects to produce the
anti-bullying video for the Nevada State Athletic Commission to
have the suspension reduced and that he has a verbal agreement with
the UFC to fight for the lightweight belt at UFC 308.
Tsarukyan is currently shooting for Hype Reality 3, where he stars
opposite Chimaev as a rival coach. Hype Reality, which is produced
by Russian MMA promotion Hype Fighting Championship, follows a
similar format to “The Ulltimate Fighter,” as two teams stay and
train in the same house while competing against each other.
However, Tsarukyan and Chimaev won’t fight each at the show’s
conclusion, which is a departure from most “TUF” seasons.
When asked about a potential grappling bout with Chimaev, Tsarukyan
welcomed the opportunity to train with “Borz.” “Ahalkalakets” also
plans on asking Chimaev to help him prepare for Makhachev, as they
are both of a similar size.
“Of course, why not,” Tsarukyan told Sport24 (translation via
Championship Rounds). “ [Khamzat] fights well and will test his
strength. To be honest, he is there [on the set of Hype Reality],
and if there is an opportunity to train with him, it would be good.
Since he is tall and can work in a left-handed stance. I will ask
him to help work with me. Yes, if he doesn’t refuse it would be
good to train as sparring partners. But in general, his build is
similar to Islam’s.”
Meanwhile, Chimaev hasn’t competed since a majority decision win
over Kamaru
Usman at UFC 294 in his middleweight debut this past October
2023. The undefeated Chechen-born Swede was slated to return
against Robert
Whittaker at UFC Saudi Arabia last month before being forced
out due to severe illness.