Arman Tsarukyan Chokes Out Mokaev at Chaotic Hype Brazil Event
Rio de Janeiro – Arman Tsarukyan continues to carve a unique path for himself in combat sports, adding another victory to a 2026 already brimming with unconventional challenges. The top-ranked UFC lightweight contender submitted Muhammad Mokaev in a grappling-only contest Wednesday night at Hype Brazil, capping a bizarre and often chaotic event held inside Rio de Janeiro’s Farmasi Arena.
Originally slated for a rematch against Giorgio Poullas following their contentious encounter at RAF 6, Tsarukyan instead faced former UFC flyweight Mokaev after Poullas withdrew. The mismatch in size and weight classes was immediately apparent, with Tsarukyan leveraging his strength and technique to consistently control the position. Mokaev, despite his best efforts, ultimately succumbed to Tsarukyan’s relentless pressure, falling victim to a slick rear-naked choke at the 7:46 mark of the 10-minute bout.
The victory marks Tsarukyan’s third foray outside the UFC octagon this year. The 29-year-old has also competed in wrestling matches against Lance Palmer and Poullas under the Real American Freestyle banner, and is already scheduled for a rematch with Poullas on March 28 at RAF 7. His willingness to participate in these diverse competitions even as awaiting a potential UFC title shot has raised eyebrows, but Tsarukyan clearly sees value in maintaining activity and honing his skills.
The Hype Brazil card also featured other UFC veterans. Jean Silva and Bryce Mitchell grappled to a surprising draw, and Edson Barboza and Shara Magomedov also ended their contest in a stalemate. However, the event will likely be remembered as much for the chaos surrounding it as for the actual competition.
UFC heavyweight Valter Walker, serving as both ring announcer and apparent instigator, injected a heavy dose of unpredictability into the proceedings. The night descended into absurdity early on during a bare-knuckle boxing match between Mauricio Boni and Leonardo Guimaraes. Walker, dissatisfied with the lack of action, issued a 10-second countdown to the fighters, urging them to increase the pace before abruptly “canceling” the bout mid-fight.
The antics continued as Walker seemingly encouraged two individuals from the audience to participate in an impromptu bare-knuckle boxing match. It was later revealed that one of the participants was the event’s head of security, while the other was simply a fan who quickly regretted his decision. The evening culminated in a grappling match between Lev Sarkisyan and Joilton Lutterbach that devolved into multiple in-ring brawls, with the referee repeatedly caught in the crossfire of flying kicks.
Despite the surrounding mayhem, Tsarukyan remained focused on his task. Following the victory, he reiterated his claim as the No. 1 contender in the UFC lightweight division, promising to soon possess both the UFC title and the BMF belt. He then issued challenges to both Dillon Danis and Charles Oliveira, signaling his eagerness to return to the octagon and face top competition.
Fight Card Results
Submission-only grappling: Arman Tsarukyan def. Muhammad Mokaev via rear-naked choke at 7:46
Submission-only grappling: Jean Silva vs. Bryce Mitchell ends in a draw
Submission-only grappling: Edson Barboza vs. Shara Magomedov ends in a draw
Submission-only grappling: Lev Sarkisyan vs. Joilton Lutterbach ends in a draw
Bare-knuckle boxing: Victor Felisberto def. Bruno Nascimento via second-round TKO
Bare-knuckle boxing: Rafael Brum def. Brendo Lucas via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Bare-knuckle boxing: Mauricio Boni vs. Leonardo Guimaraes cancelled mid-fight by ring announcer Valter Walker
Bare-knuckle boxing: Luan Duarte def. Bruno Almeida via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)
Bare-knuckle boxing: Wallace De Lima def. Carlos Silva via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Bare-knuckle boxing: Matheus Rangel def. Paulo Ceara via first-round KO
Bare-knuckle boxing: Guilherme Franca def. Daniel Mega via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)