The Daniel Cormier Show - Arman Tsarukyan's MESSAGE to Dana White, Islam Makhachev fight, Paddy vs. Justin

Summary

The Daniel Cormier Show

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

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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

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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.

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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.

Transcript

[Arman Tsarukian]

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[Daniel Cormier]

Welcome to a brand new episode of the Daniel Cormier Show. Today I am joined by one of the best lightweights in the world. I would say he's one of the best lightweights that we've ever seen because of his style, his ability, his composure inside the octagon and so much more. This guy's a wrestler. He's the number one contender. He's an all out savage. Sometimes you get an athlete that comes into the game, and they are such a student of the game that they just pursue greatness and pursue getting better at every single step. That's exactly what Armand Tsarukian does. So right now, while he is still actively the number one contender in the weight class, he goes out and he wrestles. He does grappling competitions. Hell, if they would let Armin box. I'm pretty sure Arman Tsarukian would box if given the opportunity. This guy's a fighter through and through. But it's not just the fighting that defines Armand Tsarukian. It's the viral videos of him eating unbelievable amounts of caviar, spending money, his family, his upbringing in Georgia, moving to Russia, and everything else that defines this young man. Today, I'm joined by the one and only Armand Srukhu.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Thank you so much. Thank you.

[Daniel Cormier]

Thank you so much, man. How you doing, bud?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Take you somewhere you can do advertising for me?

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

That's what you want, the best advertising. Yeah. So.

[Daniel Cormier]

But you deserve it.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it, especially from you, Double champ. Like, it's different, you know, when someone knows what is. How's my wrestling? How's my MMA skills? You know, but you're not just fun, you know, You. You know, from the bottom, this game. So.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, thank you.

[Arman Tsarukian]

I appreciate it.

[Daniel Cormier]

Armin. Let's go back to the beginning, though. Let's talk about your childhood. Do you remember much about your childhood, growing up living in Georgia before you moved to Russia and stayed there?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, I don't remember. I was born in Georgia, and then I moved to Russia, so when I was three years old or two and a half years old, so. But I remember my childhood from the. From the. From Russia.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

So beginning was. Was. Was. We had a hard life, you know, because we just moved there, you know, my father. We didn't have a house, you know, but. And then my father started working hard and make money, and we got the house, we got all opportunities, and we went to school. And when I was seven, I went to the wrestling school, or six? No, my. My brother, he was eight. I was six, and I went to the freestyle wrestling school.

[Daniel Cormier]

What made you take up wrestling? Like, what was it that. Was it your dad that said, hey, I'm gonna put my boys in wrestling?

[Arman Tsarukian]

The first we went to karate.

[Daniel Cormier]

Oh, you went karate?

[Arman Tsarukian]

First we went to karate, but karate was a little bit far from our house, and our dad cannot. He couldn't drive us to there, so. And the close to our home was a freestyle wrestling gym. So that's why we decided to go there and we like the freestyle wrestling. And I stayed there three, four years and then I transitioned to hockey because this is crazy. Like all my teammates from my school, they, they all day they play hockey, you know, I said, and I was playing with them like amateur too, but still I was wrestling. I was competing wrestling like when I was nine, but still like three times a week I, I winter time, I go to the ice and play with them. And then the one coach said, you play pretty good, so you gotta train the hockey. You can be a hockey player. And then I quit the wrestling and I started playing hockey all day.

[Daniel Cormier]

Why'd you quit wrestling? You said you liked it so much.

[Arman Tsarukian]

But hockey was more fun. And especially you don't cut weight. When I was seven, I was.

[Daniel Cormier]

You were cutting weight at seven?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, seven, eight.

[Daniel Cormier]

Why?

[Arman Tsarukian]

The coaches, they just, you know, they didn't know, like we shouldn't cut. They told us you shouldn't eat like two days. You know, don't drink anything. You gotta cut and go for this weight class.

[Daniel Cormier]

How, how involved was your dad in your wrestling at a young age?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, he, he wasn't involved. He just gave us to there and he said, do whatever you want to do. Just if you need the help, just let me know. And then I said, I want to be hockey player. And he said, no problem. So he bought me all my, all the hockey stuff, you know, because it's, this is a little bit expensive. And then he said, if you need like a professional coach or bring somewhere or send you to Canada or whatever you want. So I said, no, here is pretty good. And they stayed there. And then I couldn't be a good hockey player.

[Daniel Cormier]

Why, why couldn't you be good at hockey?

[Arman Tsarukian]

I start a little bit late. I started nine, I supposed to start like when I was five, six, because that three years when I nine is a little bit late for hockey.

[Daniel Cormier]

That's crazy.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Nine years old because the competition is in different level. So let's see, I'm nine, like ten. They already playing like four or five years. Really? Yeah, like from five years they play.

[Daniel Cormier]

So when you were playing hockey, how much did you use what you learned on the wrestling mat in hockey? Tackling people, hitting people, checking people. Like, how much of that did you use?

[Arman Tsarukian]

I use when we are in the locker room and fighting in the locker room. So I was, I was using my wrestling. Yeah, yeah, but.

[Daniel Cormier]

So you're immediately the toughest guy.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, but on the ice I wasn't that good on the fighting. So people that My teammate, they, they didn't try to mess with me, you know.

[Daniel Cormier]

So when you, when you went from wrestling at 9 years old to hockey, how long before you got back into wrestling? Because if you're living in Russia, wrestling is number one. At least that's our idea of it from the outside. Like wrestling is the number one sport in Russia. How long were you away from it?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, depends which part you leave. So I live the close to Yakutsk and even, even close to Alaska, you know. Yeah, that part. Everybody play hockey and it's. Hockey is so popular there. So number one sport was in my city is hockey. That's why I played hockey.

[Daniel Cormier]

And how long were you, were you.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Away from wrestling until 17 years.

[Daniel Cormier]

17 years old?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

What made you go back?

[Arman Tsarukian]

So I couldn't be a good hockey player. And I said what I got.

[Daniel Cormier]

Were you just bad?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, no. They just pick three hour guys, the best ones. And then like other like 25, 30 people, they just went to the like, I don't know, they went to the college, they play for the college, but not like professionals, you know, they couldn't make money from that. But three of them, they could go to the different clubs. And one of our friends, he went to the NHL, so yeah, but. And then the grappling was so popular that moment, the grappling. And I said, okay, what I can do, I cannot be a wrestler. I cannot be. I should go to try to this grappling. And I tried grappling and I won Russian competition right away. And they said it's so easy. Maybe I should fight. I started, I started fighting. I started fighting.

[Daniel Cormier]

Really? Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

And my, my father said, okay, so dangerous sport. Just do one fight and like get out of there because you can be stupid.

[Daniel Cormier]

Can I ask you a question? A lot of times, especially over there, right, we hear stories of Khabib Islam. So many of the Russian fighters, their fathers were like on them and they were very strict and they were very tough and they almost, they were on them to make sure that they turned out to be what they wanted to be. Held them accountable to their goals. Was your dad like that at all or was he more just a supportive person that was just on the journey with you?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, he just support me. He never said me, why you like sleeping, you gotta go to train or. He never been in the sport. He doesn't know like how sport works. You know, he just support me. I did what I wanted to do and. But in I'm like, I like sport, that's why I do it. And I like, I love sport. That's why. So I can't do it.

[Daniel Cormier]

You know, you're a bit of an outlier though, because most of us have someone on us, whether it's a father or a coach. Where was that motivation from for you when you were a young kid to not only go try to pursue hockey, but it doesn't boil down to Armin. This is just so easy. I'm going to start fighting and do an mma. It can't possibly be that. There had to be something or someone that helped to drive you. And in those years, those teen years, as you were growing.

[Arman Tsarukian]

So we get, we. We got the professionals, professional events. I went to event and watch how the people fight and I like so much. I said I like fighting. When I was even kid. Like if, like sometimes my dad even say like. So we go to the like two families somewhere and there is a kid and like our. My dad always said, can you beat this guy? I said yeah, go and beat him. And like we fight, you know, like 10 years. 10 years kid. It's like this in the village right now as well.

[Daniel Cormier]

Did you lose much?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Never.

[Daniel Cormier]

You never lost a kid fight?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, because I knew wrestling from the. My background, you know. Yeah, that three years I knew how to shoot single and double leg. That's it. That's because of that. I. I won all my street fights.

[Daniel Cormier]

You know, when I was a kid, my godfather, may rest in peace, he would give us like to fight. We would put socks on our hands and we would start fighting. He would give like fight of the night bonuses, man. If you got, if you knocked. My brother was fighting one of my cousins and he was winning two rounds to zero. My cousin did a spinning back fist. I swear to God, it was like a video game. He spun and he smacked my brother in the right in the eye. He went down, fight over. He got $10 bonus. It was amazing.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Wow. So when I was wrestling, you were in Dagestan and hit that guy with the. I did, yeah. And I was, I was 10 years old kid, and I was watching that video.

[Daniel Cormier]

You were in Dagestan?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, I was in. I was not Sochi. I was on. I was watching on my YouTube, you know.

[Daniel Cormier]

Oh, you're watching a doom.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Not Not. It's called. The app is called. Yeah, I was watching that, that video when you punched the guy, the Dagestani guy.

[Daniel Cormier]

You probably think I was crazy.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. And like there is a one commentator. He's so funny. Like he's saying like, like this guy should be go and fight, you know? You know, back and then you went to the ufc. That's crazy.

[Daniel Cormier]

Even then you thought that. I thought that I could fight mma, but we couldn't fight MMA at the time. You had to learn how to fight mma.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. MMA is different. Street fight is different. MMA is different, you know, so when.

[Daniel Cormier]

You start thinking of making MMA a career, you start fighting, everything's going swimmingly, right? You're winning. Did it come more natural to you than you expected?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, it was so easy. I don't know why. And, like, when we go to the competition, people is, like, worried, scared, you know? But me, I'm just saying, Syrian, like, it is what it is, you know, Like, I just go and fight.

[Daniel Cormier]

But three years wrestling isn't enough for you to have that confidence. Three years is not a long time.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Double leg stayed from that, from that.

[Daniel Cormier]

Young age, eight years past you wrestling, you think that you still had the same.

[Arman Tsarukian]

For sure. The same single and double leg that I shoot when I was from six to nine, I. I shoot the same until nowadays, really? Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

And fighting just came easy, I think.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Where I grew up. That's why it's easy for me, you know? And. I don't know, just. I like fighting. I don't know from where it comes. Maybe from my blood. I don't know. I just. I like to fight, you know?

[Daniel Cormier]

So when did you guys get comfortable, like, in life financially? When did that happen? How old were you at that point?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Like, good.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah. Could. When did you notice a difference as a kid?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Like, when I was 12.

[Daniel Cormier]

12 years old?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. Like, good.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, Life changed.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. But six, seven was okay too. But from the seven was okay. But from the three to seven was. Was hard. Yeah, We. We slept in the car, you know, we slept in the car. We didn't have a house that moment, you know, it was cold. I. I leave the cold place too, so. And one Dagestani people, they said, oh, come and you can live with us. Don't pay money. Just we stay with them like one year until we build our house. And then we built our house and we moved to them, to the. Our house.

[Daniel Cormier]

Do you remember, like, can you remember, like, just a little bit. Little bit, like, some parts, like, just like those moments. And do you remember, like, your parents or anything, like, the way that you would watch them operate in those hard times? Because in those hard times is when you really learn strength because you watch. I watched my mom and dad when we were, like, really, really poor, not take help from the government because they wanted to make it on their own. And that instilled something in me about hard work that I think carried me into being who I am today. Do you remember watching your parents and watching your father as he's starting to try and make a living that made you gu. As comfortable as you are?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, of course. I remember from like five years when I was five to like 10. He was, he was working all day. You know, we never like go somewhere and like first time we went to vacation, it was a Thailand when I was maybe 12. But my father like, he sent me around the world. So I was 12, I went to Thailand. I was 14, I went to Paris.

[Daniel Cormier]

To do hockey.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, just vacation.

[Daniel Cormier]

By yourself?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, no. Was the classmates?

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah. With your school?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, it was my school, so I'm.

[Daniel Cormier]

Barely about to sit my dog.

[Arman Tsarukian]

So I, I, maybe I had like a couple of hard years, like from maybe three to six. But I don't remember very well what, what, how it was like.

[Daniel Cormier]

But at 12, you felt your life like really change.

[Arman Tsarukian]

12. Yeah. I had my 100 bucks to, to the school. You know, I could buy whatever I wanted. I was training. I didn't go out like hang out with my friends too much. I was playing all day hockey and I fell in love with the hockey, you know.

[Daniel Cormier]

You know, being a little rich boy like you, probably good you got away from wrestling because those little mean ones would have got after you.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, wrestlers is different. So I had the one When I was 17, I went to the started like do grappling and I had the like, good, like a sport, you know the Bosco. The brand. Yeah, so expensive brand. And they said someone gonna steal that brand from me, I gotta like keep it. And then I, I put my, the, the jacket on the, on the, on the, on the, on the chair and they check my weight and then come back. There is no my.

[Daniel Cormier]

It's gone.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, it's gone because of wrestlers. Wrestlers. Different animals. Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

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[Joel and Matt (How To Money Podcast Hosts)]

Year new goals and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt and I'm Joel. We are from the how to Money podcast and every week we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

What if mind control is real?

[Daniel Cormier]

If you could control the behavior of anybody around you, what kind of life would you have?

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

Can you hypnotically persuade someone to buy a car?

[Daniel Cormier]

When you look at your car, you're going to become overwhelmed with such a good feelings.

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

Can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you?

[Daniel Cormier]

I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused.

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

Can you get someone to join your cult? NLP was used on me to access my subconscious. Nlp, AKA Neuro Linguistic Programming, is a blend of hypnosis, linguistics, and psychology. Fans say it's like finally getting a user manual for your brain.

[Daniel Cormier]

It's about engineering consciousness.

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

Mind Games is the story of nlp, its crazy cast of disciples, and the fake doctor who invented it at a New Age commune and sold it to guys in suits. He stood trial for murder and got acquitted. The biggest mind game of all, nlp, might actually work. This is wild. Listen to Mind Games on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Daniel Cormier]

So I'm asking you this because like, obviously when you have children, they'll grow up like you did later on in your upbringing. Me, I didn't grow up like, my kids grew up. Like, my kids are growing up today. Right. Comfortable. How did you keep the edge whenever you were growing up with. In that way, right? With access to stuff? How do you feel? Like you said your dad told you, don't fight. You're gonna be stupid. Right? You don't need to fight. Like, how did you keep that edge even though you were living the way you were?

[Arman Tsarukian]

I just like what I do. And I said my dad, like, if I could be not good fighter, just tell me, I'll go. But I started winning fights and I became a Russian champion. Then I became Asian and then world champion MMA. And then I started making money. When I was 18, I was making, like, $4,000.

[Daniel Cormier]

Doing what? Fighting.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Fighting? Yeah. I went to Korea. I made money there and, like, I started, like, making around 10k per fight. So for me, it was good money. You know, when you have money, just, you have a car, you have a house, they give you food at home. You just spend money freely for you.

[Daniel Cormier]

You know, people don't realize how good they have it. When you're still living with your parents. Yeah, they pay all the bills.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Until now. I live with my parents.

[Daniel Cormier]

That's crazy. Arvid.

[Arman Tsarukian]

That's good.

[Daniel Cormier]

I would live with him too, if I was you.

[Arman Tsarukian]

I'm telling you. Easy, easy.

[Daniel Cormier]

Was there a lot of expectation on you growing up? Like, expectation to do well?

[Arman Tsarukian]

They did for them, for.

[Daniel Cormier]

From anyone. Your coaches, like, what was the expectation? Like, Since I was 15 years old, people like, you need to go win. My coaches, you got to go win. You need to go win. I go home. My dad's like, you gotta be a good football player. Like, I always had expectation on me. Did you have that?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. Like, which gym? I go coaches, like, wrestling. When I was wrestling, every coach wanted to take me from them because they knew, like, when I was like, six, seven, eight, I was wrestling, like, so different. Like, and I could beat everybody. And like, every coach wanted, like, take me because they thought, like, I'm like a future Olympic champion, you know, you.

[Daniel Cormier]

Can see that in kids.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, because the coaches always, like, told me, oh, you have a different, like, genetic different, like, move. You, you, you, you already think how wrestle Even when I was a kid. But then the. My coach, like, I cut a lot of weight, like 2kg.

[Daniel Cormier]

But why are you cutting that weight? I don't know.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Like, even if, if I'm going to have a kids, like, who is gonna wrestle? I'm not gonna let them cut, you know?

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Wait. Because I was hating that sport because of cutting weight.

[Daniel Cormier]

Is that why you, you think it was easier to walk away from wrestling because of that?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

So there was pressure, but it was from. Was the coaches telling you, hey, we need to start making the weight.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. But then they, they started and that for me was easier to win like 1,2 kg less, you know.

[Daniel Cormier]

But you as a 7 year old.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Kid, I know like how, I know like I should, I should stay in my weight, you know, but you as.

[Daniel Cormier]

A kid were like, hey, I want to do this because I want to make. Yeah, I want to win. Yeah. When it was important.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. But coach should, should tell me like, oh, you shouldn't cut weight.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, no, yeah, that's just. Yeah, I can't really say much about that because I do in, in my high school, the kids do cut a lot of weight too, but they're older, right? Like 16, 15, 17.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Okay, but when you're nine, seven, eight years old.

[Daniel Cormier]

No, they should not be cutting.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, yeah. That's the worst part for the brer. Especially like 7, 8 until like 14 years old. It no makes sense.

[Daniel Cormier]

It's only practice.

[Arman Tsarukian]

What are you doing?

[Daniel Cormier]

You win, you lose, it doesn't matter.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, it doesn't matter. But when you're 16, 17, you got to start like pick it up and winning.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

If you're losing, when you're 18, you're losing. You gotta transition to MMA.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah. You're making it seem like MMA is the easier option, and that's not the case.

[Arman Tsarukian]

It's easier option for sure than to be an Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling.

[Daniel Cormier]

It's impossible being an Olympic chair. Be an Olympic chain. I tell people constantly being an Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling is impossible.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Almost from 5 million people, one can, can be. So you know anybody who started like freestyle racing 30 years old and like became Olympic champ, you know who almost did?

[Daniel Cormier]

You know who almost did? I swear. You remember, you know King Mo, Muhammad Lawal, used to fight Bellator, everything. He didn't start wrestling till 15. And the guy that won the Olympics in 2008, he beat him every single time. It was the, the little short. I think he maybe 84 kilos. Georgian? Was it a Georgian? I wonder if he was a Georgian guy. He was really good. King Mo beat him every single time. Look this up for me, Paul. 2008 Olympic Games, 84 kilogram champion.

[Arman Tsarukian]

But did he go to Olympics?

[Daniel Cormier]

He got beat in America by a guy that wasn't as good, but because the guy had a good style for him. Guy lost the first match, but he started at 14. And it was unheard of that he was so close, because the rest of us all started real young and we were on the Olympic team. But it's damn near impossible if you start late. But in fighting, you can.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Wrestling, tennis, football. Okay.

[Daniel Cormier]

84 kilos.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

Gold medal from Georgia, 2008, right? Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

So any. Any amateur sport, if you start late, it's almost impossible. Unless if shooting. What else?

[Daniel Cormier]

Curling.

[Arman Tsarukian]

You know this one.

[Daniel Cormier]

Curling.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Curling. What else? No, nothing.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

So you get in the mma, right? Everything's going good. You get the call. Moscow, you're fighting Islam. St. Petersburg.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

You're fighting Islam on seven days notice.

[Arman Tsarukian]

I said right away. Yes.

[Daniel Cormier]

Really?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. And he said no. He said, there is opportunity to fight with Islamic Hatchev in two weeks or three weeks. It was two or three weeks, I said. And he didn't say when I said, Islam Mahachev, you want to fight? I said, yes. And he sounds like, do. You don't want to hear when he said, doesn't matter. I just need two weeks to cut my. Okay, so you got like two and a half or three weeks. So. And. And 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. Because you gotta be confident.

[Daniel Cormier]

You can't believe you're gonna lose.

[Arman Tsarukian]

For example, if I didn't take that chance, I could be at home right now. Maybe I'm never could come in US and like, learn English and like, never be in ufc. Like, I could fight in my country and, you know, if I didn't take.

[Daniel Cormier]

That chance, that moment, and it legitimized you right away, right? Because everybody's like, wow, this kid fought Islam so good and he didn't have a training camp.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, was good fight. And. And then I started winning fights and rematch almost happened, but it almost happened. Almost happened. I pulled my bag, but you see that we. We fought first time and like almost in six years, we again almost fought because we were. We were the best in the division. So.

[Daniel Cormier]

And he always kind of gives you praise for. Even when they asked today, like, who's the best lightweight in the world? He always says, I believe Armand's Rukian. Yeah. And that's the respect that probably was earned inside the Aklan on that night when you guys fought.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. I wish we could fight last year this time. Yeah. Would be. Would be the best. Maybe fight in the. In whole time.

[Daniel Cormier]

Why. Why do you think it would have been such a great fight?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Because it's we are such a well rounded fighters and you know, we have a story. Like we fought when we were young and like was six years ago, it was my debut and like, and, and then in six years we started winning our fight. He became a champion, I became a number one contender and fight with each other. So it's pretty interesting.

[Daniel Cormier]

You know, I think so many people thought that fight was going to be good because of the way you guys fought before and the improvements you showed and the improvement he showed. But unfortunately that fight didn't happen because of you hurting your back and everything. There were so many stories floating around why you didn't fight, what happened. I even heard once that you just weren't allowed to fight because of your father wouldn't let you fight with a hurt back that you wanted to fight. Like why are they. Why first off, why is so many people so enamored with you and your life in terms of your family life that they incorporate it into everything that you do? But also like, is it annoying to you that all these stories are just always floating around about Arman Tsarukian?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, not anymore. Before, yes. But now I'm just laughing that someone is when they ask you pulled your bag? No, I'm saying I couldn't cut my weight.

[Daniel Cormier]

But that, that was.

[Arman Tsarukian]

People think, but now we got the new, new thing that it wasn't issue with the bag, it was an issue with weight cut. It was issue that I didn't get that pressure that I couldn't fight.

[Daniel Cormier]

What pressure?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Like fighting the main event with Islam.

[Daniel Cormier]

That you couldn't handle pressure.

[Arman Tsarukian]

It was in la, a lot of Armenians. Yeah. So and this is saying like legit, legit people.

[Daniel Cormier]

People that you actually know.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, like real and you know too.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, but that's, but again like even that though, right Armin, like all those.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Things, I don't know, I don't know how they think. I have no idea. And the doctor came and see me and the doctor said like maybe I could fight. But how she can see, she's not mri how she can see, like what happened? What's going on with me? She put some tapes and she said you feel better? Like how you can feel better if you put some tapes on your back. But you know, I did mri, but I never show to anybody what's going on with my bag. And I got the doctor who is like sitting and saying, what's going on? What we. What injured you got on my back.

[Daniel Cormier]

How bad was it? Yeah, how bad was it?

[Arman Tsarukian]

It was bad. It was so bad. So. But one day I gotta do surgery. So now I'm figuring out when. When I should do that. Yeah, it's still able to. To train. Still to. Able to train. But I think when I get the belt, I'm gonna do the surgery because it takes like six weeks to get back.

[Daniel Cormier]

So. Okay, that right there, Right. Is part of the. The question when it comes to Armand Srikian. Right. Everybody thought it was the weight. Then you weigh in as the backup fighter, Right? Me, I'm calm. This guy's number one contender. This guy's number one contender. Because it seems very clear that you should be fighting for the championship. That doesn't happen. You go and fight Dan Hooker. You smash Dan Hooker. We do an interview day after. People are going crazy. So many people watched it. Everybody's aligned. Armand Tsarukian is the number one contender. It seems like a foregone conclusion that when there is a title fight, it's going to be Armand Tsarukian, but that doesn't happen. Do you buy it? Do you buy the reason that you're not getting the title fight because you headbutted Dan Hooker? Do you believe that that's the reason you're not getting the title fight?

[Arman Tsarukian]

It could be. It could be. And I think this is paramount. First fight or first Paramount event? That's why they're a little bit scared to put me there, because I pulled out from my. I pulled out once in my life from my fight, and they. They doesn't believe that I can make it happen. And the second one had. But third one is that I punched the fan. I don't know. The fan was making the fan.

[Daniel Cormier]

You know, when you say it all at the same time.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, but like, I got. I gotta meet and talk to them. What was the real.

[Daniel Cormier]

Have you spoken to.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, no, no.

[Daniel Cormier]

Why?

[Arman Tsarukian]

They didn't.

[Daniel Cormier]

Have you requested a meeting?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No. Why?

[Daniel Cormier]

Because you need to get. You need to clear this up.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, but I have a manager, so he. I pay him money.

[Daniel Cormier]

Has he. Has he requested a meeting?

[Arman Tsarukian]

I think he's going to get the meeting. He's going to get them. He's going to get the. He's. He's going to talk.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

So. But I'm okay, you know, whatever. So first a couple days, I said, yeah, what's going on? Like, why is like that? But I said, okay, it's okay, you know, And I just keep going. And I know, like, I'm gonna get my title fight anyway, and it's a. It's a business too. You gotta see, like, Maybe there is a lot of people from Russia, you know, now they don't have a US Champions. They don't have like England champions. So maybe Tom Aspenois. Yeah, yeah, but he's his current. No, the interim title.

[Daniel Cormier]

He's heavyweight champion. Because John.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, but still. So from us, they don't have a champion.

[Daniel Cormier]

We don't have a champion.

[Arman Tsarukian]

So that's why maybe they put the Gage versus Patty. I have no. It's. I just. I just guess, you know what I'm saying?

[Daniel Cormier]

It's the same, right? If it's gaii versus Armen, we could still have an American champion.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No way I'm saying, Arman. No way.

[Daniel Cormier]

I'm saying it's a possibility, right? Like Patty Pimblett versus Justin Gaethje. Patty Pimlet versus Armin Tsarukin. Armand's Rukin versus Justin Gaethje. Anybody can win any fight, right? So you could beat these guys or you could lose to these guys in. In the way fighting works. I'm just saying. Yeah, but on any given night, right? Yeah, it could be.

[Arman Tsarukian]

But they. They picked that five. What can I do? Like.

[Daniel Cormier]

No, I'm just saying. I'm just saying, like, because you are fine with it. But it seemed like even me, right? I was like. I was so confused. And I work with this company, right, Very closely and I'm like, how. It just didn't make sense to me.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, maybe. Maybe really it's a headbutt. Yeah, maybe really headbutt. And yeah, it was my fault. Yeah, I know that. And I. And I said, Dan Hooker is a man. Maybe it was a different guy. He could say, I heard my head. I couldn't fight, you know?

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, yeah, for sure. Then another fight canceled.

[Arman Tsarukian]

That's a big deal. So it's. It was. It was so bad. But. But I think. I think the. The. Because of Paramount. Maybe Paramount said we need the petty Pimlet versus.

[Daniel Cormier]

What do you make of this, this fight? Paddy Pimlet and Justin Gaethje.

[Arman Tsarukian]

I build. I believe Justin Gaethje.

[Daniel Cormier]

You think Gaethje is going to beat him?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

You don't think Patty's very good.

[Arman Tsarukian]

He's just tough, but not technical. He's wild. Wild. But you know, Gage, he's. If he's in good shape, he's gonna be calm first two rounds and he takes. He. He knows he's. He has a lot of experience. See, he beats two times physique. How striking too. Yeah, first. First round. He gives a lot of like, kicks. Kicks. And no he let kick him. He. He let, like, do a lot of things on him. But the second round, third round, second, third, and he's starting, like, pick it up. Yeah. And the same is going to be here, I think, and I believe, like, Justin Gage is going to be going to beat him by KO or by decision. Sorry.

[Daniel Cormier]

But Paddy never looked better than he did when he fought Michael Chandler. He was able to take him down. He was able to control him. His ground game is pretty good. He's saying he can finish his fight in less than three rounds. He thinks he's just better. What do you. You think he's just talking or, like, what do you make of that?

[Arman Tsarukian]

We never see him, was a good fighter. So if he could beat Charles Oliveira, if he could beat me, and then of course, we can say, though, yeah, this guy is for sure gonna win. But we see them with the trash canes to him that he fought like Chandler.

[Daniel Cormier]

You don't think Chandler's very good? I love talking to you. You're so crazy.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Chandler. Bobby Green.

[Daniel Cormier]

King. Green.

[Arman Tsarukian]

King. Green. Bull.

[Daniel Cormier]

He beat Ferguson, too.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Tony Ferguson. Tony Ferguson, he was on his. He wasn't on his prime, you know, he was losing eight, 10 fights. But if Tony Ferguson was like, five, six years ago, he could, like, smash him.

[Joel and Matt (How To Money Podcast Hosts)]

New year, new goals. And in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt. And I'm Joel. We are from the how to Money podcast. And every week we help you to spend sm, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

What if mind control is real?

[Daniel Cormier]

If you could control the behavior of anybody around you, what kind of life would you have?

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

Can you hypnotically persuade someone to buy a car?

[Daniel Cormier]

When you look at your car, you're gonna become overwhelmed with such a good feelings.

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

Can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you?

[Daniel Cormier]

I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused.

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

Can you get someone to join your cult? NLP was used on me to access my subconscious. Nlp, AKA Neuro Linguistic programming, is a blend of hypnosis, linguistics, and psychology. Fans say it's like finally getting a user manual for your brain.

[Daniel Cormier]

It's about engineering consciousness.

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

Mind games is the story of nlp, its crazy cast of disciples, and the fake doctor who invented it at a new age commune and sold it to guys in suits. He stood trial for murder and got acquitted. The biggest mind game of all. NLP might actually work. This is wild. Listen to mind Games on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Daniel Cormier]

It would seem as though he would be the guy that you would want to win because he seems to. No, no, you seems to want to fight you.

[Arman Tsarukian]

He's the same bullshit guy like. Like Tapuria. Tapura wanted to fight me too, but not anymore.

[Daniel Cormier]

Do you think that if Patty wins he wouldn't fight you?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Never.

[Daniel Cormier]

He said he's never been offered a fight against you. That's why you guys haven't fought yet. I gotta ask you, Armor, this is just me doing my job, man.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, but like ufc. UFC not gonna let him to fight with me. They. They gonna lose his. Their star. They think he's star. I don't know how they. Why they think he's a star. I have no idea. This week everybody is talking more about me than about the Petty Pima versus Gaethje. Like even like I see a couple clips. I didn't see all press conference from yesterday, but I heard like four, five questions was about me.

[Daniel Cormier]

Like a lot of the questions are about you.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. So. But you know, can imagine if I was fighting this weekend, what it could be for Paramount and for the. For the ufc. I think could be big. Me versus Petty.

[Daniel Cormier]

So my question to you is this, right. You're confident that you. I think you might be favored to be almost everybody in the world. You and to Pori are like super close.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

In terms of the betting odds. Everybody else, you guys kind of wipe away right now.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yes. In our division is Topura and me. Halloween. No, Charles not. Yeah. It's because we are in our prime and we can box, we can wrestle and we never see the Petty how he looks like with good fighters.

[Daniel Cormier]

But you just said to Pori is guy too.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No Guy. He's avoiding me. Yeah, you said but like a fighter. He is good fighter.

[Daniel Cormier]

Right. So you said to Poria won't fight you.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

You don't think Patty will fight you?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, because I'm bad style. Yeah. Because I know how to wrestle. If I was a. A good striker, he for sure he could take me, you know.

[Daniel Cormier]

So if that's the case, then how are you going to get your title fight? Armin, how are you going to get your title fight?

[Arman Tsarukian]

I have no idea. So hopefully Gage wins and fight you. Gage fight me? Yeah. Gage wins. Tapuria go up to 175 with Islam. I'll fight with Gaethje for the interim title and then engage. Tapuri is coming back and they beat Tapuria and get the title.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, that would be a fun fight. Yeah, I think that'll be a really good fight. Yeah, but you have to respect Topuri is fighting.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No. Yeah, for sure, for sure. Yeah. He has a. He has a good power on the hands, like, good boxing, good pressure and good IQ as well. So, yeah, if he missed the punch, he never like going crazy. Like, he's like, he's a good fighter.

[Daniel Cormier]

Do you think that the winner this weekend fights to pour your soul? Are you gonna fight again? Will you fight again in the meantime?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, I. I don't see anybody who I can fight. So if Holloway beats Olivera, I can fight Holloway. But I don't know. You've seen it that or not, because it's easy money for me. They can. They can give me the effort. Yeah, for. Even for BMF is good too, to get BMF and then get that.

[Daniel Cormier]

If you get the BMF title now you're holding that belt, that might think, oh, well, he's BMF champion.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. And I want to be like an active champion and defend bmf, defend the real belt, because I got five, six years, you know, to work.

[Daniel Cormier]

There's a lot of people in the world that believe that the reason you aren't fighting for the belt is because of the style that you present for Toporia and the rest of those guys. And I tell you, man, when I watch you fight, especially the way you fought against Dan Hooker, it's going to be very difficult for these guys to keep you off of them. How do you fight the Armin Tsarukian of today? If you were getting as an opponent? How do you fight the Arman Tsurukian of today? Because I remember the Charles Oliveira fight, and it wasn't as close as people say it was. It was a good fight, but you seem pretty comfortable in that fight. But this Dan Hooker fight, you just dominated him and it looked like you guys were on completely different levels and he was riding hot. How do you fight Armin Tsarukian today?

[Arman Tsarukian]

So you gotta take him down first. You gotta try to take him down first. Because if you're not gonna try and take him down, he's gonna take you down.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

So, like, let's see, like, fighters who is like, who knows wrestling very well and who wants to try take me down as well, is going to Be close fight, you know, but, like, if you're gonna stay and strike me, it's not gonna help.

[Daniel Cormier]

You know, I. I hope that you, at some point, get your opportunity.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, no, I'll get. I'll get my title fight. And we don't know what's going on with Tapura. Maybe he. He's coming back and. And the end of this year, so.

[Daniel Cormier]

He said he wants to fight in April, but Pimblett said he won't fight that soon, so.

[Arman Tsarukian]

I can fight with.

[Daniel Cormier]

Maybe there's an opportunity for you to fight him.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, I can. I can. I can fight Tapuri in April, and then I'll fight to Patty or Gage. Who. Who. Who gonna be a interim champion tomorrow?

[Daniel Cormier]

Not tomorrow, the next day.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, saying that, who's gonna be champion from them? Yeah, yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

You and Ilya would be a tough fight, man. You fight.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. Good. Good fight.

[Daniel Cormier]

Good fight. Yeah, it'd be a fantastic fight.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, I would like to watch that fight, too.

[Daniel Cormier]

If you became UFC champion, what would it mean to you? Just, like, seriously, because, like, you say you started fighting because it was kind of easy. You enjoy doing it now. You love what you do. But if you became the UFC champion, what would it mean to you right now?

[Arman Tsarukian]

It means a lot for me because I want it so much, but I know when I became a champion, it's nothing for me. I want to be. I don't know, it's like, in my life, like this. So, for example, when I was young, I wanted, like, special car, right? I get the car. First day, I'm happy. The second day is same life, you know? So the same with belt, the same. The. It's going to be same for me. Like, so I get the title, I want to defend the title. When I defend, I want to defend as much as possible. And then I wanted to be a double champ and, like, make all. Break all records, so. And I know, like, possibility. I can. I can fight, you know, a lot.

[Daniel Cormier]

Why do you do that? Why do you keep moving that? Finishing what? Like, it's like a finish line, right? A goal. Why do you feel like you just kind of, when you get to the goal, it's like, ah, well, it is.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Because I've been working so hard, it gotta pay soft, you know, it's gotta. And when I became a champion, when I become a champion, so it's. It's gonna be time when I'm gonna make a lot of money, and I want to be. I want to be a face of UFC.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Like, you were 10 years ago or what?

[Daniel Cormier]

Come on, man. I know. I got a lot of great money. No, no, it wasn't 10, man.

[Arman Tsarukian]

It was how many?

[Daniel Cormier]

Seven years? Eight. Yes.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. But, yeah, a long time.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, it was a lot.

[Arman Tsarukian]

It was a long time. So I would like to have two belts on my. On my shoulders.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

And, like, run.

[Daniel Cormier]

One of the best things that I enjoy doing. When I would win a belt, I love giving it to my dad. Like, I always go to the back. I would give the belt to my dad, and he could say, well, my son's a world champion. Right. Who would you want to do that with? Like, is there a person like your father? Would you walk to him and just. Because it always feels good when your father says to you, good job, son.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, for sure. It's that. Yeah. If he's gonna be in the cage. If not, then give it to the coach. It's good, too, because coaches work harder than me, you know, they worry more than me because you fight there. You don't worry about it, but coach cannot control you there, you know? That's why they worry. And I would like to give to the coach as well.

[Daniel Cormier]

Why'd you. Why'd you put your dad in your corner last time?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Who?

[Daniel Cormier]

Your dad was in the corner last time. Why? Why'd you do this?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, he wasn't like.

[Daniel Cormier]

Oh, he was, like, walking.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, no.

[Daniel Cormier]

I'm like. Was that the first time he's gone to a fight?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

Why?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Because I was fighting in u. S. And he doesn't have a visa.

[Daniel Cormier]

Okay. Okay.

[Arman Tsarukian]

That's why he cannot get visa.

[Daniel Cormier]

So all these times that you're here in the United States.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, he never. He never was on my fights.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah. Wow. That's kind of crazy. That's sad. Actually. Khabib's dad couldn't get to his fights towards the end of his life, too.

[Arman Tsarukian]

That's why my last fight was in Doha, so he could come and watch my fight. Yeah, he was super excited.

[Daniel Cormier]

Did he enjoy it? Because before, he thought that you fighting would make you dumb.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, he enjoyed. And, like, he, like, after he smeared, he. He wrestled the pahumpa. Have you seen the video? When, like, he throw the palompa to the. Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

What about your mom? What does your mom make of all this?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, she doesn't. She doesn't watch fights. And does she watch it after, when.

[Daniel Cormier]

She knows that you won?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, she just watched maybe on Instagram, some reels. That's it.

[Daniel Cormier]

Why?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Because she worries. She worry about my health, you know, and it's hard to watch. Maybe something happened during the fight. Miss the. Miss Punch, you know, or my mom.

[Daniel Cormier]

Would sit in the front, and she never watched, really. She would sit there with her head down the whole time. I was like, well, why do you even come?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, right?

[Daniel Cormier]

It's, like, no point in even going if you're, like, not watching.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. No, my mom, she's just standing at home and waiting when someone gonna see. Oh, your son is one.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

Before I let you go, when this thing's all said and done, like, how do you want people to remember Armand Tsarukian?

[Arman Tsarukian]

I wanna. I wanna be a humble guy with a lot of UC belts on my shoulders and, like, try to beat all records and to give something good for this world, you know, to leave something, like, good. Not just. We're not gonna take money, you know, but maybe build a good gym or something, you know, like, do some good things. Like, in my city, we have a Galitsky, Sergei Galitsky. He's a billionaire in Russia, so he built the. One of the best park ever, like, so beautiful park. And just from his pocket, you know, for the. For the people. And people go there enjoying, and they, you know, they come and they're happy, you know, because there's a lot of, like, good things to do there. Enjoy with family, restaurants, everything. Yeah. So I would like to do something like that.

[Daniel Cormier]

Your city, do they get behind you when you're fighting?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, yeah. Everybody is, like, behind me.

[Daniel Cormier]

And, like, you bring joy to them.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yep. Yeah. I would like, you know, most of them, they got Russian passports. A little bit hard to get, obviously, to get here. Yeah. But one day. One day I hope UFC comes to Russia, too, and we can fight there.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah. When you're the world champion, if you become world champion, you can start making those requests and they start to listen.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. Russia, Armenia, it's gonna be good. Yeah. Yeah. And especially, like, if in Sarmenia, from Russia, everybody can fly and watch the.

[Daniel Cormier]

That's awesome.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

Keep making those eating videos, man. You're doing good.

[Arman Tsarukian]

We gotta. We gotta. We gotta do together video how we eat.

[Daniel Cormier]

This is crazy.

[Arman Tsarukian]

What was the video like with the cakes or with the eyebrow? No.

[Daniel Cormier]

Oh, video of the cake back in the day. But did you see the fat video with me eating the. There's a video with me, like, fat. AI, you want to see the hamburger?

[Arman Tsarukian]

You want to see my video from today?

[Daniel Cormier]

Let's see your video from today. Well, what did you eat now? This very expensive caviar last night. Yo, where were you in and out. Burger.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Popeyes.

[Daniel Cormier]

Popeyes. Chicken.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Huh?

[Daniel Cormier]

Look at this guy. Popeye's Chicken, private jet. Hey, let me ask you a question. How do you still have, like, muscles? Like, like, body, right? Like, listen, like, how do you still have this body when you eat this all the time? Why you eat this and you still have, like, six pack?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Because I train. I train twice a day, every day, so I. I trained in the jet, too. I'll show.

[Daniel Cormier]

Let me see. Oh, my God. This dude.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Oh.

[Daniel Cormier]

You kind of look like Rocky Balboy.

[Mind Games Podcast Narrator]

Huh?

[Daniel Cormier]

You remember Rocky Balboa?

[Arman Tsarukian]

No.

[Daniel Cormier]

Like, you look like Rocky Balboa.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Really?

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah. Like, with the haircut and the. The muscle shirt. This is very good. Give me these videos. For the video?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, for this video?

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah. That was Armand Tsurukian. Armand Tsurukian. Hopefully, guys, gets this chance to fight for the UFC championship. This guy deserves it. I believe with all my heart, and I know a lot of you do, too. Hey, in the comments, tell me what you want Armand to eat next, because this guy seems to be doing really well with these eating videos.

[Arman Tsarukian]

We gotta eat horse.

[Daniel Cormier]

I would never in my life eat horse.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Why?

[Daniel Cormier]

This is meal.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, off the horse. Off the horse.

[Daniel Cormier]

It's not good, dude.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Strong. What?

[Daniel Cormier]

It tastes like. You've eaten this before horse?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Of course, brother. That's why I get muscles.

[Daniel Cormier]

Tastes like.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Tastes like.

[Daniel Cormier]

Beef.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Beef, but good. Better than beef.

[Daniel Cormier]

But like, like.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, no, no. So good. So good. What about camel?

[Daniel Cormier]

When you were eating the cat?

[Arman Tsarukian]

I had alligator a couple days ago.

[Daniel Cormier]

Disgusting.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, it was good. Like chicken.

[Daniel Cormier]

Like chicken. Yeah, I heard, I heard. Yeah, but like, camel. The camel, when you were eating it.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, camel.

[Daniel Cormier]

It looked like a lot of fat. Like a lot of fat.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, but you gotta like, get this small piece from the fat and, like, big piece from the meat and then rice together. Like, eat. You like eating, too?

[Daniel Cormier]

I do like eating, but not that.

[Arman Tsarukian]

What? Bro, look at me. Look at you.

[Daniel Cormier]

I don't know how. I really don't know how. I'm. I'm excited to see you. When you're done training, you're gonna be fat like me.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, no, no, no. Listen, I love training so much, you can't even imagine.

[Daniel Cormier]

When you're done fighting, you will not train it.

[Arman Tsarukian]

I gonna train more than now. You know? Why?

[Daniel Cormier]

Why?

[Arman Tsarukian]

When? I mean, not in the camp. I like, train more than when I'm in camp. In camp, you always, like, tired. Tired. You're not enjoying because, like, you gotta cut weight. This. You have a pressure, you have a fight coming up. But when you don't have a fight. You just go. I go to the. To the gym. So I do lifting, I do boxing, I swim, I come talk, like all day. I'm there.

[Daniel Cormier]

At American Top Team, anywhere you stay in the dorms. At American Top Team, when you go, you stay dorms?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, I stay there.

[Daniel Cormier]

Why do you stay in the dorms instead of just get like Airbnb apartment.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Something, be like on the. In the. How do you say? Discipline.

[Daniel Cormier]

Discipline.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. You cannot bring anybody there. Your friend or like. Yeah, you. It's just men's lives there. And you. You cannot have guests.

[Daniel Cormier]

You have a girlfriend, wife? You're married?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

You have kids?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Two.

[Daniel Cormier]

I had no idea.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

Congratulations.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Thank you. Yeah, Two kids.

[Daniel Cormier]

How old? Boy, Girl?

[Arman Tsarukian]

Two girls. Yeah. My. My wife is caramel too, so beautiful.

[Daniel Cormier]

This is a good color. You want to be very beautiful. This color. Beautiful, beautiful.

[Arman Tsarukian]

You remember he said you see my color?

[Daniel Cormier]

Beautiful. She Georgian. Russian girl.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, American caramel.

[Daniel Cormier]

Black.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

You have a black wife. Oh, let's go. Oh, my God.

[Arman Tsarukian]

What? Let's go. I mean, not black, brother.

[Daniel Cormier]

Caramel. This is black.

[Arman Tsarukian]

No, this is like little bit. Little bit lighter than you like.

[Daniel Cormier]

Beautiful color.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah. No, no, no. Not a little bit lighter.

[Daniel Cormier]

Well, if she was my color, it'd be very good. Yeah, the light is good.

[Arman Tsarukian]

So Donna and Hunter.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yes. Go ahead.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Forgive me. Give me title fight. I'll be good boy. I'm a good boy and I'm not gonna hit anybody anymore. And trying to be a good boy. So.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Arman Tsarukian]

Yeah, but I cannot. In the during camp, it can be happen everything, you know, like, you can get hurt, but for the weight card and for the. For the punching bags or headbutt anybody. Never happened again. Yeah, but. But like, you know, I'm going to the fights, watch flights. Is someone, like, trying to, like, slap me? What I can do? I gotta slap him back, right?

[Daniel Cormier]

I know what you're going to do. I know that. Exactly. Guys, that's Arman Tsarukian. Thank you guys for watching the Daniel Cormier show. Until next time. Peace. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.