Arman Tsarukyan’s next move was almost a major surprise, one that could have seen him step into the spotlight alongside a very different type of opponent.
The UFC lightweight contender recently headlined a Hype FC event in Armenia, where he fought Shara Magomedov to a draw over six minutes. The match came shortly after his win over Dan Hooker back in November.
It was an intense clash, with both fighters exchanging words before stepping into the cage. But behind the scenes, there were other plans in motion that nearly took Tsarukyan down an unexpected path.
According to reports from MMA Fighting, Tsarukyan was originally considered for an exhibition against actor Tom Hardy. While best known for his roles in film and television, Hardy has been involved in competitive jiu-jitsu tournaments, making it an intriguing crossover opportunity.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Tom Hardy: Grappling match that was rumoured to happen
Some fans feel that Arman Tsarukyan hasn’t been given a fair shot by the UFC, pointing to missed opportunities and long waits between big fights.
It’s clear he’s not close to a lightweight title shot yet, but another big moment could have come his way if things had played out differently.
Hype FC recently posted what looks like a screenshot of messages with Hollywood star Tom Hardy, who they reportedly approached about facing Tsarukyan on 30 December.
Hardy, who has trained alongside fighters like the UFC’s Lone’er Kavanagh, has been involved in grappling competitions for quite some time now.
The promotion stated: “Few people know, but a possible opponent for Arman on December 30th could have been one of the most popular actors of our time, a purple belt in BJJ – Tom Hardy. But due to continuous filming of a movie until March, he was busy.”
The post doesn’t show much of Hardy’s reply beyond him noting his film commitments through March and thanking Martirosyan for an offer that seemed higher than what most professional BJJ practitioners would expect.
Arman Tsarukyan thinks another UFC fighter would decline a grappling match with him
A year ago, Arman Tsarukyan was closing in on a fight against Islam Makhachev for the lightweight belt at UFC 311.
He had to pull out of the fight on short notice, and it’s still having an impact on his career today.
After his recent grappling bout, Tsarukyan was asked about the possibility of facing Makhachev again, this time in a non-MMA setting. Their only meeting to date came back in 2019.
“In the short term, this grappling match won’t happen because Islam makes very big money in the UFC. I don’t think anyone can afford paying him that amount of money,” Tsarukyan told Red Corner MMA.
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