Arman Tsarukyan sent notice to the entire lightweight division that a new contender has arrived after he flattened Beneil Dariush with a devastating first-round knockout in the UFC Austin main event.
Long considered a prospect destined for title contention, Tsarukyan has been waiting for the opportunity to shine against a top-ranked opponent but it wasn’t until he faced Dariush that he finally got the chance to shine under the spotlight. Tsarukyan looked supremely confident as soon as he started trading shots with Dariush on the feet.
The finishing blow came after Tsarukyan threw a knee up the middle that just missed but he followed that with a massive right hand that snapped Dariush’s head around on a swivel. The punch sent Dariush crashing to the canvas with Tsarukyan following up with a few more shots until the referee saw enough to stop the fight.
ARMAN TSARUKYAN JUST PUT DARIUSH OUT COLD AT #UFCAustin pic.twitter.com/gHtOdLsk1Z
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) December 3, 2023
The end came at just 1:04 in the opening round.
“I was expecting a knockout,” Tsarukyan said following the win. “I told you, I don’t want to win a decision. I just wanted to perform very well, knock him out, go home and get a title fight. I want to say thank you to Beneil, he is the most respectful fighters in our division for me. One of the very good guys. Nobody wanted to fight me from the top five. Just one guy and it was Beneil Dariush.
“I can wrestle, I can grapple, I can strike. I knew I can knock him out and I did it. I was thinking all day for that knockout.”
Tsarukyan was measured with his combinations as he invited Dariush to stand and trade with him once the fight got started. While Dariush did unleash a couple of strong kicks early, Tsarukyan appeared ready for whatever was thrown at him.
Once Tsarukyan found his range, he threw that knee up the middle with Dariush ducking his head out of the way just in time. Unfortunately for him, Tsarukyan followed the knee with the massive right hand that blasted Dariush and ended his night just a few seconds later.
The win marks three in a row for Tsarukyan and he’ll undoubtedly take a big jump up the rankings after such a statement performance over a veteran like Dariush. In a perfect world, Tsarukyan would earn a rematch with reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who he actually faced in his octagon debut back in 2019.
“Hopefully, next fight is going to be for the fight,” Tsarukyan said. “If not, it doesn’t matter, one more fight. I’m going to be a champion, trust me guys.
“Islam is a different level fighter. We fought four years ago, I was 22 years old. Now. I’m 27. I got improved and the next fight is going to be a different one. I’m going to knock him out. That’s it.”