Arman Tsarukyan appears to be well on his way to becoming one of the new powerbrokers in the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division.
As Tsarukyan marches toward his showdown with Alvarez at 155 pounds, here are five things you might not know about him:
1. Humble beginnings laid his foundation.
Tsarukyan was born on Oct. 11, 1996 in Akhalkalaki, Georgia—a city of less than 10,000 people located roughly 20 miles from the border of neighboring Turkey.
2. He maximized his youth.
“Ahalkalakets” made his professional mixed martial arts debut for the Modern Fighting Pankration promotion as a wet-behind-the-ears 18-year-old when he put away Shamil Olokhanov with punches 2:47 into the first round of their Sept. 25, 2015 encounter in Spassk-Dalny, Russia. Tsarukyan fought three times as a teenager, compiling a 2-1 record in those bouts.
3. Opponents find few holes to exploit.
Tsarukyan carries the prestigious Master of Sport designation in wrestling and MMA. He has also won a world championship in pankration. Tsarukyan’s well-rounded skills have propelled him forward as a mixed martial artist, resulting in six wins by knockout or technical knockout and five more by submission.
4. He made wise choices in terms of allies.
The 25-year-old Georgia native has aligned himself with American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, where he receives world-class training and refines his craft alongside a bevy of decorated competitors, from Jorge Masvidal, Andrei Arlovski and Kyoji Horiguchi to Dustin Poirier, Edson Barboza and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
5. Quick-strike capability remains part of his repertoire.
Tsarukyan has eight first-round finishes to his credit, including one of the sub-minute variety. He punched out Ali Khaibulaev in 33 seconds at a regional show in Russia on May 6, 2016. Between Nov. 5, 2016 and Aug. 8, 2017, Tsarukyan closed out five consecutive victories inside one round.