This is the live blog for Arman Tsarukyan vs. Muhammad Mokaev, the submission grappling match that goes down on Wednesday evening at Hype Brazil in the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
One of the top MMA fighters in the world today, Tsarukyan has been left out of the UFC lightweight title picture for the time being, and so instead has occupied much of his time recently with combat sports side quests. Last year, Tsarukyan competed four times in various grappling events, and in 2026, he’s already competed at two different RAF events. Now, Tsarukyan returns to the grappling game for a 10-minute submission-only match with Mokaev.
Formerly a top flyweight in the UFC, Mokaev left the promotion in 2024 after the UFC failed to re-sign him, despite a 7-0 record in the promotion. Since then, Mokaev has plied his trade in other organizations, adding three more wins to his undefeated MMA record. But for all his success in MMA, Mokaev has not had the same luck in grappling competitions, going 0-2 in his two grappling bouts in 2024. He hopes to get his first win against Tsarukyan, but faces an uphill battle as Mokaev should be facing a substantial size disadvantage.
Follow along with the Tsarukyan vs. Mokaev live blog below.
Let’s be real, this event has been completely ludicrous. There was an impromptu fight, Valter Walker’s been making stuff up, a near-brawl. All sorts of stuff. But now we’re here to the main event.
Arman is shockingly not that much bigger than Mokaev. I mean, he’s bigger, but not as much as you’d expect given the weight classes they compete in.
LOL. And before the bout even begins, Arman accuses Mokaev of greasing, so he gets some more toweling, and now we’re off.
Arman is much thicker than Mokaev and he’s trying to impose his will early, but Mokaev is trying to stay in motion. Arman gets to a front headlock sequence, and gets Mokaev down, but he pops back up. Arman moves into a bodylock and Mokaev has to roll to avoid, but Arman ends up in top-half anyway.
Mokaev digging underhooks and uses them to recompose his guard. But Arman is much bigger and goes for a smash pass to half guard again. Now, Arman is trying to clear the other leg, but Mokaev using good speed to recompose. Arman smashes through to the other side now, but Mokaev gets his butterflies in, forcing Arman to a standing position.
Arman back down on top, smashing to half guard, but Mokaev keeps a knee shield. Arman finally smashes across to side control though. Mokaev rolls up to his knees, and Arman holding the front headlock now. Mokaev moves and Arman tries to spin to the back, but Mokaev goes down to his back again, and Arman returns to top half.
Arman keeps smash control here, but Mokaev showing good defense, continuing to re-guard. Rolls to his knees, Arman back to the front headlock, another spin and after the scramble, Arman ends up in side control, again. Mokaev not accepting any bad position, though. Back to belly down, and Arman back on the headlock. He can’t use that to get to backpack or mount though, because Mokaev is proving too nimble.
We cycle the position one more time, with Mokaev going back to his back, and Arman is suffocating on top of him. Now, Arman pins the arm and advances to mount! He postures, trying to bait Mokaev into something, but Mokaev staying locked in tight. Arman high in this mount, but without the gi, there are fewer options here. And he tries to step off to the side, Mokaev follows, and now Arman sneaks a D’Arce in!
Mokaev sees it, though, and turns back. Arman spinning around him though, constantly on offense. Mokaev slowing and Arman moving to side control with ease now. He’s going to move to mount, it looks like. Mokaev diving under, to his knees, and this time Arman gets to the back! Mokaev tires to roll but Arman is on him! And he’s under the chin!!!!
Mokaev does not tap and Arman puts him out!
Dominant performance from Arman Tsarukyan, over the, admittedly, much smaller man.
Arman Tsarukyan def. Muhammad Mokaev via Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) — 7:46, Round 1
Valter Walker, who is the in-ring announcer, speaks to Arman Tsarukyan, who has a very large belt on his shoulder.
Tsarukyan thanks the UFC for letting him do this, then says he’s the No. 1 contender, and knows that soon he’s going to hold the UFC belt and the BMF belt.
Then, Tsarukyan thanks Mokaev, saying he’s smaller, but that he defended very well. He then calls out Dillon Danis for a grappling match.
Tsarukyan then says he wants to stay active and get all the belts in the world. Then calls out Charles Oliveira to end things. Says he’ll fight him in Hype, whenever.
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