The Daniel Cormier Show

Episode: Arman Tsarukyan's MESSAGE to Dana White, Islam Makhachev fight, Paddy vs. Justin
Date: January 27, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features Daniel Cormier in conversation with top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan. The discussion delves into Tsarukyan’s journey from humble beginnings to MMA stardom, his wrestling and hockey background, his mentality as a fighter, career-defining moments (including his debut against Islam Makhachev), obstacles to securing a title shot, candid thoughts on UFC matchmaking, and reflections on legacy, family, and future goals.

The conversation is candid and wide-ranging, providing valuable insights into Tsarukyan’s character, his take on the fight game, the business side of MMA, and some fun banter on food, family, and life outside the cage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Life & Upbringing (03:10 – 17:46)

• Childhood in Georgia and Russia:
  • Arman was born in Georgia but moved to Russia at age 3. Remembers beginnings in Russia, family struggling financially at first.
  • "We slept in the car. We didn't have a house that moment, you know, and it was cold... Then, Dagestani people invited us to stay with them for a year until we built our house." (14:38 – 15:14, Arman Tsarukyan)
• First Engagement with Sports:
  • Started with karate; switched to freestyle wrestling because the dojo was closer to home (04:49).
  • Began wrestling seriously at age 6, then transitioned to hockey at 9, citing more fun and not having to cut weight so young (05:45).
  • “When I was seven, I was cutting weight…they told us you shouldn’t eat for two days. Don’t drink anything. You gotta cut and go for this weight class.” (05:52, Arman)
• Family’s Influence:
  • “My dad…he just gave us to there and said, ‘Do whatever you want. If you need help, let me know.’” (06:11)
  • On returning to wrestling via grappling as a teenager: “I couldn’t be a good hockey player. I said, ‘Okay, what I got?’…I tried grappling and I won Russian competition right away. I said, ‘It’s so easy. Maybe I should fight.’” (08:23 – 09:22)
• Distinctive Upbringing vs. Other Russian Fighters:
  • Unlike fighters like Khabib, Arman’s father was supportive but not demanding or overbearing (10:01).

2. Motivation, Street Fights, & Transition to MMA (10:26 – 14:14)

• Drive to Compete:
  • Motivated mostly by love for sport and for fighting itself rather than external pressure.
  • “I just like fighting. I don’t know from where it comes. Maybe from my blood. I just like to fight.” (14:02)
• Street Fights as a Kid:
  • Arman never lost a childhood fight, relying on wrestling skills: “Three years I knew how to shoot single and double leg. That’s it. Because of that, I won all my street fights.” (11:30 – 11:32)
• Transition to Professional Fighting:
  • Found MMA to come naturally, aided by wrestling base: “When we go to competition, people are worried, scared. But me, I’m just standing chill, like, 'It is what it is.'” (13:25)

3. Financial Struggles & Family Resilience (14:14 – 17:46)

• Turning Points in Life:
  • Life improved significantly around age 12, as family became more financially stable (14:25).
  • “From three to seven was hard…we slept in the car.” (14:38)
  • Trips abroad for the first time as a teenager once life improved (16:21).

4. Expectations, Pressure, & Cutting Weight as a Kid (22:27 – 24:59)

• External Expectations:
  • Coaches recognized his wrestling talent early; several wanted to 'steal' him for their teams, seeing an Olympic future for him (22:53).
  • On pressure: “Coaches always told me, ‘You have different genetics, different moves.’” (23:19)
• Criticism of Weight Cutting for Kids:
  • Deeply critical of cutting weight at a young age, describing it as the reason he eventually left wrestling: “If I have kids, I’m not gonna let them cut…” (23:48)
  • “I was hating that sport because of cutting weight.” (23:45)

5. Switching to MMA, Wrestling vs. MMA, & Late-Starters (24:59 – 26:46)

• MMA as an 'Easier' Path:
  • Argues it’s “easier” to become a UFC fighter than an Olympic champion in wrestling: “It’s easier option for sure than to be an Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling…almost from 5 million people, one can, can be.” (25:03 – 25:18)
  • Discussion with Cormier about late starters excelling in certain sports; overall, starting late is a disadvantage in amateur Olympic sports.

6. Islam Makhachev Fight & UFC Arrival (26:46 – 31:30)

• Debut Against Makhachev:
  • Accepted the fight against Islam Makhachev on very short notice, confident he could win: “I knew, like, I’m gonna beat him. I don’t know why I thought, like, I’m gonna beat him because I was super confident.” (26:59 – 27:36)
  • “If I didn’t take that chance, I could be at home right now, maybe never could come to US…never be in UFC.” (27:38)
• Legacy of That Debut:
  • That performance instantly legitimized him and won him Makhachev's respect. Both men are now among the best in their division. (28:02 – 28:25)

7. Injuries, Rumors, & Missed Opportunities (29:13 – 31:54)

• Back Injury, Weight Cut Rumors:
  • Clearing up rumors about withdrawing from a fight: “People think…we got the new, new thing that it wasn’t issue with the back, it was an issue with weight cut. It was issue that I didn’t get that pressure that I couldn’t fight.” (30:12)
  • On his back injury: “It was bad. So bad. One day I gotta do surgery. Still able to train, but I think when I get the belt, I’m gonna do the surgery.” (31:32)

8. Pursuit of a Title Shot & UFC Politics (31:54 – 43:01)

• Obstacles to a Title Shot:
  • Frustration with UFC management—headbutting Dan Hooker, one career pull-out, and a backstage altercation have been cited as reasons for holding him back from a title shot.
  • “I gotta meet and talk to them. What was the real [reason]?” (33:27)
• Manager Involvement:
  • Defers to his manager to get a meeting with the brass but seems unbothered: “I just keep going. I know I’m gonna get my title fight anyway.” (33:53)
• Insider Perspective:
  • Cormier notes that even among insiders, Arman’s exclusion is “confusing.” (35:18)
• Speculation on UFC's Business Decisions:
  • Suggests UFC/Paramount may avoid booking him due to commercial/market reasons: “Maybe there’s a lot of people from Russia…now they don’t have US champions…maybe that’s why they put Gaethje vs. Paddy.” (34:36)

9. Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje, & Lightweight Landscape (36:06 – 43:01)

• Breakdown of Fights:
  • Arman picks Gaethje over Pimblett: “He’s going to beat him by KO or by decision.” (36:11 – 37:00)
  • Downplays Paddy Pimblett’s record: “We never see him with a good fighter.…He fought like Chandler, Bobby Green, Tony Ferguson is past his prime.” (37:19 – 37:47)
• On Avoided Fights:
  • Believes neither Paddy nor Ilia Topuria wants to fight him: “UFC’s not gonna let him fight with me…They gonna lose their star…He’s the same bullshit guy like Tapuria. Tapuria wanted to fight me too, but not anymore.” (39:43 – 40:45)
• Path to the Title:
  • “Hopefully Gaethje wins and fights me…I can fight Tapuria in April, then Patty or Gaethje for the interim title.” (41:42 – 45:05)
• On Being a Nightmare Matchup:
  • Cormier notes: “It’s going to be very difficult for these guys to keep you off of them. How do you fight the Arman Tsarukyan of today?” (43:17)
  • “You gotta try to take him down first. Because if you’re not gonna try, he’s gonna take you down.” (44:13)

10. Legacy, Family, and Beyond Fighting (45:19 – 47:52; 49:33 – 51:17)

• Meaning of Becoming UFC Champion:
  • “[When I become champion,] it means a lot. But I know when I become a champion, it’s nothing for me. I want to defend, break records, be double champ.” (45:35 – 46:19)
  • His goals are always moving forward: “When I get the car, first day I’m happy, second day, it’s the same.” (45:35)
  • Importance of giving back: “I want to be a humble guy with a lot of UFC belts on my shoulders and to give something good to this world…Maybe build a good gym or something, like, do some good things [like] Sergei Galitsky did in my city.” (49:39)
• Family Reflections:
  • Father didn't pressure him athletically but is proud/supportive; first time his dad saw him fight live was in Doha (47:58).
  • Mother refuses to watch his fights due to worry over his safety, only watches social media clips after it's over (48:48).
• Fan Support:
  • “My city, they get behind me when I’m fighting.…I bring joy to them.” (50:37)

11. Food, Social Media, Training, & Personal Life (51:18 – 56:12)

• Viral Eating Videos:
  • Segment on Arman’s social media and viral eating videos, which have gained cult status with fans. “Keep making those eating videos, man. You’re doing good.” (51:18)
  • “We gotta do together video how we eat!” (51:21)
  • Cormier and Arman tease each other about body types and Arman’s ability to eat junk and stay shredded.
• Lifestyle & Family:
  • Lives with parents still, has two daughters, and a wife of “caramel” complexion, teasingly described as ‘black’ by Cormier (55:05 – 55:39).
  • Trains hard, stays disciplined by living in the dorms while training at American Top Team.
  • On his future post-fighting: “I love training so much, you can’t even imagine. When done fighting, I’ll train more than now.” (53:58 – 54:12)

12. The Message to Dana White & UFC Decision Makers (56:03 – 56:23)

• Arman’s Appeal:
  • “Dana and Hunter, forgive me. Give me title fight. I’ll be a good boy and I’m not gonna hit anybody anymore…and for the weight cut or the punching bags or headbutt anybody, never happened again.” (56:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dad’s Approach and Motivation:
  • “My dad…he just gave us to there and said, ‘Do whatever you want. If you need help, let me know.’” (06:11)
• On hardship and resilience:
  • “We slept in the car…one Dagestani family let us stay with them until we built our house.” (14:38)
• On MMA vs Olympic Wrestling:
  • “It’s easier option for sure than to be Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling…almost from 5 million people, one can be.” (25:03 – 25:18)
• On Acceptance of Islam Makhachev Fight:
  • “If I didn’t take that chance, maybe I never could come to the US…never be in UFC.” (27:38)
• On UFC Not Booking Him:
  • “Maybe they’re a little bit scared to put me there because I pulled out from my fight once in my life, and they don’t believe I can make it happen. And the second one ‘headbutt’, third one is that I punched the fan…” (32:54)
• Joking about eating horse:
  • “We gotta eat horse.”
    Cormier: "I would never in my life eat horse!"
    Arman: “Of course, brother. That’s why I get muscles.” (52:53 – 53:10)
• Message to Dana White:
  • “Dana and Hunter, forgive me. Give me title fight. I’ll be a good boy and I’m not gonna hit anybody anymore.” (56:03)

Key Timestamps

• 03:10 — Arman’s early life, hardships after moving to Russia
• 05:51 — Cutting weight at age 7 and its negative effects
• 09:22 — Transition from hockey back to grappling/MMA
• 14:25 — Family’s financial turning point
• 22:53 — Early expectations from coaches, wrestling pressures
• 25:03 — “Olympic wrestling is harder than MMA” debate
• 26:59 — Accepting Islam Makhachev fight on short notice
• 30:12 — On rumors during fight withdrawals (injuries vs. weight cut vs. pressure)
• 34:36 — The politics of UFC matchmaking
• 36:11 — Picks Justin Gaethje over Paddy Pimblett
• 39:43 — On fighters not wanting to fight him (Pimblett, Topuria)
• 41:42 — Mapping out his route to the interim/title fight
• 44:13 — “You gotta try to take me down first.”
• 45:35 — Reflections on what it would mean to win the title
• 49:39 — Legacy: giving back, philanthropy aspirations
• 51:18 — Social media presence & viral food content
• 54:07 — Dedication to training, lifestyle at American Top Team
• 55:08 — Family details, personal anecdotes
• 56:03 — Direct plea to Dana White for a title shot

Tone and Atmosphere

• The conversation is energetic and candid, with Cormier’s signature blend of humor and insight sharp throughout.
• Arman is open, honest, sometimes blunt and playful, especially in discussing MMA politics and his rivalry with other fighters.
• The exchange intersperses serious discussion with friendly teasing, especially around food and family life.

Conclusion

This episode offers a compelling portrait of Arman Tsarukyan as a world-class athlete shaped by hardship, family resilience, a deep competitive drive, and an irreverent, honest personality not afraid to challenge the fight game’s status quo. Cormier’s probing and personable hosting style helps peel back layers, showcasing both the fighter and the man. Listeners gain first-hand perspectives on the realities of climbing the MMA ranks—and a direct, memorable appeal from Tsarukyan to Dana White and the UFC powers that be.