Arman Tsarukyan said that he will be appearing on the set of Hype Reality 3 with Khamzat Chimaev and that Khamzat will help him prepare for Islam Makhachev đź‘€
“To tell the truth, [Khamzat] do you have [on the set] I would love to have the chance to train with him. He’s tall so…
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— Championship Round (@ChampRDS)
July 14, 2024
Arman Tsarukyan has welcomed the opportunity to train with Khamzat Chimaev in preparation for a potential fight against Islam Makhachev.
Tsarukyan earned himself a chance at a title fight with Makhachev with a split decision win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April of this year, his ninth win in 11 promotional appearances. But Tsarukyan, who lost a unanimous decision to Makhachev in his UFC debut in 2019, turned things around quickly following his win over Oliveira and turned down a rematch at UFC 302 last month.
Tsarukyan was also fined $25,000 and suspended for nine months for punching a fan at UFC 300, but if he takes part in an anti-bullying campaign, his suspension will be reduced to six months, allowing him to fight by October 12th, just two weeks before UFC 308, where Makhachev is scheduled to next defend his title.
Tsarukyan recently told Sports 24 that he plans to submit an anti-bullying video to the Nevada State Athletic Commission in an attempt to have his suspension reduced, and that he has a verbal agreement with UFC to fight for the lightweight belt at UFC 308.
Tsarukyan is currently filming “Hype Reality 3,” in which he plays a rival coach facing off against Chimaev. Produced by Russian mixed martial arts organization Hype Fighting Championship, “Hype Reality” has a similar format to “The Ultimate Fighter,” with two teams training and competing in the same house. However, Tsarukyan and Chimaev will not fight at the end of the show, which is a departure from most seasons of “TUF.”
When asked about a possible grappling bout with Chimaev, Tsarukyan welcomed the opportunity to train with “Bolz.” “Akhalkalakecs” also plans to enlist Chimaev to help him prepare for the bout against Makhachev, given the similar builds between the two fighters.
“Of course, why not,” Tsarukyan told Sport24 (translated by Championship Rounds). [Khamzat] He’ll fight well and test his strength. To be honest, he’s there. [on the set of Hype Reality]If I have the opportunity to train with him, it will be good. I will ask him to help me train with me, because he is tall and can train with a left-handed stance. Yes, if he doesn’t refuse, it will be good to train as a sparring partner. But in general, his physique is similar to Islam’s. “
Chimaev, meanwhile, has not competed since winning a majority decision in his middleweight debut against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October 2023. The unbeaten Chechen-born Swede was set to return to action last month at UFC Saudi Arabia against Robert Whittaker but was forced to pull out due to a serious illness.
