UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is set to compete at ACBJJ 20 on December 17 in Moscow. The Armenian MMA star is currently preparing at the prestigious Aslan Khadartsev Wrestling Academy in Vladikavkaz, Ossetia. He is surrounded by world class wrestlers including Olympic and European champions.
Tsarukyan has been training at the facility for a week and expressed his admiration for what he calls
“one of the best schools in the world.”
The academy gives him elite sparring partners in freestyle wrestling including world champion Artur Naifonov and other decorated athletes.
“I really like it. Very good. Zaurbek (Sidakov) helps, all the guys help,”
Tsarukyan said during a recent interview at the facility.
The MMA star’s preparation strategy shows his versatile approach to grappling. While he brought his own grappling coach to work on specific positions Tsarukyan heavily incorporates freestyle wrestling into his training regimen.
“You always have freestyle and in the end it’s like according to the rules of grappling,”
he explained. When he trains in America he focuses more on pure gi work and his current camp puts priority on wrestling based grappling.
Regarding his style for the upcoming match Tsarukyan clarified expectations.
“I didn’t think I’d surprise anyone, like doing an imanari roll here, trying to twist my heel there, trying to do a knee lever there.”
Instead he plans to lean on his preferred strategy of controlling position then pursuing submissions when opponents are compromised.
“I hold my position and finish off. Two or three good elbows when he’s a little shaken and at that moment I go for a submission.”
The December 17 event is shaping up to be exceptional with Tsarukyan encouraging fans to attend.
“Come and cheer. And besides me there are many names, many stars. This is going to be one of the coolest grappling tournaments in history.”
The prestigious ACBJJ belt is reportedly extremely valuable and Tsarukyan joked that
“you can buy an apartment somewhere with this money.”
This high level grappling match serves as ideal preparation for Tsarukyan’s anticipated UFC title opportunity which is expected to materialize in February or March. The Armenian MMA star remains one of the most exciting and well rounded athletes in mixed martial arts and his performance at ACBJJ 20 will highlight his elite grappling credentials.
