VIDEO: Tsarukyan finishes rival in grappling match with aggression; UFC giant also wins.

The top lightweight fighter applied an illegal hold and subsequently won via rear-naked choke.

Rodrigo Tannuri

18/12/2025 | 10:55

Tsarukyan at a UFC press conference. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/armantsarukyan

Top of the lightweight category (up to 70,3 kg), Arman Tsarukyan He showed all his quality in action, but not in the UFC, but in the main fight of ACBJJ 20. Last Wednesday (17), in Russia, the Armenian faced Mehdi Baydulaev in grappling and finished him. In this way, the athlete took home the symbolic 'All-Star' belt.

The duel was full of drama and controversy. Early on, Tsarukyan landed a knee strike to Baydulaev's midsection, a move considered illegal in grappling. Angered by the attack, the Russian responded by kicking the UFC fighter. The tension between the athletes was so high that members of their teams also became agitated outside the mat.

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As punishment, the Armenian received a yellow card for the foul, but he didn't seem fazed. Experienced and skilled in grappling, Tsarukyan dominated his opponent and, after taking his back, submitted him with a rear-naked choke in the final seconds.

It's worth noting that this was Tsarukyan's fifth victory in 2025. In the UFC, the Armenian put on a show and finished his opponent. Dan Hooker In November. In grappling competitions, the athlete also stood out by finishing... Ben henderson, Patricky Pitbull And now Mehdi Baydulaev. The wrestler will perform for the last time this season against Shara Magomedov by 'Hype FC', on December 30th, in Armenia.

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Volkov also wins.

Besides Tsarukyan, Alexander Volkov Another UFC fighter won at ACBJJ 20. Known for being an elite striker, the giant Russian, standing at two meters tall, showed he's no pushover in grappling and dominated Evgeniy Goncharov, taking the victory by points.

Tsarukyan's illegal knee and Baydulaev's kick

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Tsarukyan finishes off Baydulaev

Tsarukyan presents his father with the belt.

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