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

Welcome to a brand new episode of the Daniel Cormier Show. Today I’ve got a special one: a relentless, well‑rounded lightweight who wrestles, grapples, would probably box if they let him, and still posts wild food videos between training; Arman, you’re a true student of the game and a fighter through and through—let’s get into your story from Georgia to Russia and everything in between.

Thank you so much, man. Hearing that from a double champ hits different because you know the sport from the inside out.

Take me back to your childhood—Georgia, then moving to Russia—what do you remember?

I was born in Georgia and moved to Russia around three; early on we had nothing, my dad worked nonstop, we finally got a house, and I started freestyle wrestling at six after karate was too far from home.

Why the switch to hockey, and were you really cutting weight as a kid?

All my school friends played hockey and a coach said I had potential, so I quit wrestling; yes, I was cutting weight at seven or eight, which I hated, and my dad was supportive rather than strict, but starting hockey at nine was late so the pro path closed—even though one teammate made the NHL.

Did the wrestling ever show up on the ice?

Mostly in locker room scraps; on the ice I wasn’t that guy, but teammates didn’t try me.

When did you get back to grappling and then MMA?

Where I lived near Yakutsk, hockey ruled, so I stayed with it until seventeen; then grappling got popular, I won a Russian event quickly, decided to fight MMA, and even though my dad said do one and quit, the wins kept coming.

Without a hard‑driving father, what kept you motivated?

I’ve loved fighting since I was a kid, went to events, and almost never lost those village scraps because the single and double I learned young stayed with me.

After that Dagestan clip of me, I figured you’d end up in MMA; did the sport feel natural to you?

On fight day I felt calm and it all came easy because I like to fight and I had enough wrestling to lean on.

When did life get more comfortable at home?

Around twelve things changed; before that we slept in a car until a Dagestani family housed us, my dad never stopped working, later sent me on trips, and I trained hockey all day.

What about expectations and cutting weight so young?

Coaches saw big potential and tried to poach me, but early weight cuts burned me out; I’d never let kids that young cut, it makes no sense.

Is MMA really the easier path compared to Olympic wrestling?

It’s way easier to reach the top in MMA than to start late and become an Olympic champ in freestyle—almost impossible.

Walk me through taking Islam on short notice.

I said yes immediately with about three weeks to prepare because I believed I could win, that debut opened every door, and the rematch six years later fell apart when I hurt my back.

Islam praises you; why would last year’s rematch have been special?

We’re both complete now and have history from my debut, so the storyline and the skill level made it compelling.

There were rumors about pressure and weight—what really happened with the pullout?

I laugh at that talk now; my MRI shows a real back issue that I’ll likely fix after I get the belt, tapes didn’t do anything, but I can train.

After you smashed Hooker, why no title shot—was it the head clash?

Maybe; add a prior withdrawal and a fan incident and I can see the network being cautious, so my manager will meet with them, but I get it’s a business and I know my shot will come.

Gaethje versus Paddy, and everyone bringing your name up this week—how do you see it?

I pick Gaethje for experience and pressure, Paddy’s tough but unproven at the very top, and media keep asking about me anyway.

Who actually matches you right now?

It’s me and Topuria in our prime; I think Poirier avoids my style and Paddy would too because I can wrestle.

Map your path to the title, and what about a BMF shot?

If Gaethje wins and Topuria moves up, I can fight for interim and then unify, and I’d gladly fight Holloway for BMF and defend both belts as an active champ.

If someone has to beat you today, what’s the game plan?

Try to take me down first or I’ll take you down, and pure striking won’t be enough.

Could Topuria happen soon?

I’d fight him in April and then face the new interim champ later in the year.

What would the belt mean to you?

It means a lot now, but I know the feeling fades fast, so I want defenses, records, double champ status, and to be a face of the UFC.

Who gets the belt first, and can your parents be there?

I’d hand it to my dad or my coaches; my dad finally saw me in Doha and loved it, and my mom waits at home because it’s too stressful to watch live.

How do you want people to remember you?

As humble and dominant, and as someone who built things for people back home—like a park or a great gym—my city is fully behind me.

About those eating videos—how do you stay lean?

I train twice a day, even on flights, so I can enjoy the food and still keep six‑pack energy.

You’re living at ATT dorms?

Yeah, for discipline—no guests—and I’m married with kids.

If she were my shade, the camera would love it, and the lighting’s good.

We’re playing with shades here—call it caramel, a touch lighter, still beautiful. Dana and Hunter, line me up for a title shot and I’ll keep it clean. Camp can get rough and injuries happen, but I won’t be throwing headbutts or punches at the event. If someone slaps me, I’ll answer back. That’s our monster signing off. Thanks for watching the Daniel Cormier show. See you next time, peace.