Crazy Night of Grappling and Chaos in Rio
Arman Tsarukyan secured a decisive victory over Muhammad Mokaev in a ten‑minute grappling contest, finishing with a rear‑naked choke at 7:46. Leveraging his size and technical skill, Tsarukyan controlled the fight from the outset by locking onto Mokaev’s back.
“I still want to be the top lightweight in the UFC,” Tsarukyan said after the bout, hinting at future clashes with Dillon Danis and Charles Oliveira.
The match was part of Hype Brazil’s event held at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, which also featured former UFC competitors such as Giorgio Poullas and Lance Palmer, both of whom have faced Tsarukyan in the past.
Card Highlights
- Draws:
- Jean Silva vs. Bryce Mitchell (10‑minute draw)
Edson Barboza vs. Shara Magomedov (10‑minute draw)
- Interruptions:
- A bare‑knuckle bout between Mauricio Boni and Leonardo Guimaraes was halted early by announcer Valter Walker, who demanded more action.
- Walker then staged a spontaneous fight involving the event’s security chief and an unwilling fan.
- A planned grappling match between Lev Sarkisyan and Joilton Lutterbach devolved into a chaotic brawl, with the referee sustaining kicks while attempting to maintain control.
Despite the night’s turbulence, Tsarukyan’s performance remained clear-cut: he dominated his opponent and secured an early finish. He is scheduled to face Giorgio Poullas again on March 28.
