Imagine stepping into the ring with a UFC lightweight contender, twice your size, with $20,000 on the line. Sounds insane, right? But that's exactly what MMA YouTuber MMA Guru attempted recently, going head-to-head with the formidable Arman Tsarukyan. And this is the part most people miss: despite the size difference, Tsarukyan, known for his grappling prowess, made it look effortless.
Here’s the full story: Arman Tsarukyan, the Armenian UFC star, recently faced off against the 6ft3 YouTuber during a stream with Adin Ross. With Ross putting up $20k if MMA Guru could take Tsarukyan down, the stakes were high. But here’s where it gets controversial: Tsarukyan, who boasts a 75% takedown defense rate and averages over three takedowns per UFC fight, brushed off the YouTuber’s attempts with ease. Even more impressive? Tsarukyan has already dominated former champions like Benson Henderson and Patricky Pitbull in grappling matches.
But let’s zoom out for a second. Tsarukyan isn’t just making waves in these one-off challenges. He’s currently in Florida, gearing up for his Real American Freestyle debut this Saturday, where he’ll face ex-PFL champion Lance Palmer. And this is just the tip of the iceberg—he’s also in talks to grapple with Dustin Poirier in February. Bold prediction: that match could be a game-changer.
Now, here’s the real kicker: despite being a top UFC contender, Tsarukyan was snubbed for a title shot at the start of 2026. Instead, Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje are headlining UFC 324 for an interim lightweight belt. Fans are furious, and Tsarukyan himself has called out the decision. Dana White even hinted that Tsarukyan’s weigh-in headbutt against Dan Hooker in Qatar played a role. But is that a fair justification, or is the UFC playing favorites?
This brings us to the burning question: How would a grappling match between Dustin Poirier and Arman Tsarukyan unfold? Would Tsarukyan’s dominance continue, or does Poirier have what it takes to challenge him?
And here’s where you come in: What’s your take? Do you think Tsarukyan deserves that title shot? How do you see the Poirier match playing out? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—let’s spark a debate!
