It has come to light that Arman Tsarukyan’s coach believed the lightweight contender was Muslim for an astonishing two years. This misunderstanding, both humorous and heartwarming, showcases the diverse and often unexpected nature of relationships in the world of combat sports.
The confusion began when Tsarukyan’s teammate, referred to as “Maga,” consistently greeted the star with “Salam Alaikum,” a traditional Islamic greeting. Tsarukyan, known for his quick wit inside and outside the octagon, played along with the joke, responding in kind. This led his coach to assume that Tsarukyan was indeed a follower of Islam.
“The coach always says, ‘Whenever you see Arman, always greet him with “Salamu Alaykum.”‘ And the coach always says to me, ‘Salamu Alaykum, Salamu Alaykum.’ He thinks I’m Muslim too. The coach, God willing, now knows everything. Number one, God willing, number one, yes, God willing, number one.”
“About two years passed, and the coach says… I tell him, ‘I’m not Muslim.’ And he says, ‘What do you mean you’re not Muslim? Why did Maga always say you were?’ I told him, ‘He was just messing with me on purpose.'”
For two years, the coach continued to use Islamic phrases and greetings with Tsarukyan, including “inshallah” (God willing) when discussing future success. The misunderstanding only came to light when Tsarukyan finally revealed that he was not Muslim, much to the coach’s surprise.
Arman Tsarukyan is of Armenian descent and was born in Akhalkalaki, Georgia, which is home to a significant Armenian population. As for his religion, like many Armenians, he is likely Christian, as Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its state religion. Most Armenians follow the Armenian Apostolic Church, a form of Oriental Orthodoxy. However, there is no widely available specific statement about Tsarukyan’s personal religious beliefs.
Tsarukyan does not represent Georgia. Besides the Armenian flag, he can be spotted with a Russian flag on his social media profile.
Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed that Islam Makhachev will return to the Octagon at UFC 311 in January 2025, following a hand injury that delayed his October UFC 308 title defense. Makhachev, the lightweight champion and top pound-for-pound champ, was originally set to face Arman Tsarukyan, and while Khabib didn’t confirm the opponent, it’s expected to be Tsarukyan. Makhachev is closing in on records for most lightweight title defenses and consecutive UFC wins, with a potential victory bringing him closer to Anderson Silva’s record. Meanwhile, UFC 310, scheduled for December, has yet to announce its main event.
