Khamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan are unlikely foes in mixed martial arts given their gap in divisions. However, that’s not so much the case in grappling.
The two UFC contenders went head to head in a recent grappling match for Hype Fighting Championship. Although Tsarukyan seemed to have trouble with Chimaev, the UFC lightweight title challenger held his own and gave Chimaev, a top contender at 185 pounds, a hard time during their match, which happened outdoors and in a cage.
You can watch their grappling match in the video above.
Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is scheduled to return to the cage on Jan. 18 in the main event of UFC 311. He challenges Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title in a rematch of their 2019 fight won by Makhachev.
Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is coming off a first-round submission win over former UFC champ Robert Whittaker in October. Although not official, many see Chimaev as the likely next challenger for UFC middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis.
