Arman Tsarukyan breaks down win vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 | ESPN MMA

Arman, congratulations, you said your hand was going to be raised, you absolutely did against Charles Olivera, but tell me about the first round, how close those submissions were, what kind of danger did you feel you were in, uh, yeah, feeling great and you first. The round was, uh, Chu was pretty tight, but I knew that he was going to get out of there and that he was going to win this fight because I don't know how I believed myself and I knew that I could tap and I like it. fact, you know because I worked a lot, I've been working a lot and how I'm going to tap right now and like it was in my mind there was a lot of things, you know and I knew how to escape from there and how I did it like that, uh, yeah, it was tight, yes, really, what was the factor that made the difference in the second and third round?

So for you, yeah, I came back and said, when I saw it, the trainer told me it was like a pretty close fight, pretty tight round arm, man. I had to go there and started winning the round. And I said, "Okay, I'm going to finish him," and in the second round, at the end of the round, I almost finished him, you know, I, if that were the case. about six seven minutes, yeah, I'd like to finish it. I like to cut it there and, uh, yeah, I won that F in that round and when I got there, he said maybe it was one, you've got to go away and keep doing it, keep winning and like it was said.

Okay, coach, I'm going to do that and, uh, I just believe in myself and I know I can do that and I know I can be a champion. Were you surprised that he agreed to be on his back for so long in some of those rounds like it was okay, it kept you on your guard, uh yeah, I wasn't surprised, but since he's a good Jiu-Jitsu guy, he's very good there and he wanted to do some chokes like me. I don't know about triangles, but he tried to do that and he thought he could submit me because he got the first round and he said, "Okay, maybe I'm not good at juit," so he tried to be on top.

He tried to sweep me away. I was controlling him and, uh, his game was definitely in those positions, it's his game, you know, yeah, your head position was obviously doing a lot of control when he was there on his back. You talked to me before. This fight about how much work you did with Grant Dawson to prepare for the fight specifically, you know the back shot of Charles Olivera, how much did that work help you when he got in the octagon with Charles? Yes, it worked a lot. I know, but the first round was super super bad for me, you know, in the first two minutes because I kicked and I slipped and he understood that and I like it, but I didn't turn my back on him, that's why he was lying down. down in the bush I didn't want to turn because he can grab my back and he's the best in that position and I was that's why I was there and like uh wait my my my time you know you like to get Get out, get out of there and yeah, Of course, that helped me and all my saving partners.

I have been working hard and I want to tell everyone, thank you very much. I thank you all for your work, your time and, yes. The best American team, Leon Har, they helped me a lot, yes, absolutely. I mean, you told us that you wanted to finish in the first round, but that you weren't going to try to make any mistakes because it was more important to raise your hand. Did that experience of having those three rounds against a former champion help you prepare for your ultimate goals, which are title contention and then eventually gold? You know I was concentrating a lot on the end and it was my big mistake so I got that experience now because my trainer told me I don't like to try to knock him out play play you can't like knock him out like often I don't like to hit too hard don't waste energy like you're faster than him you might like Hit him, I don't like trying to knock him out too much.

You're not Mike Tyson, so no, Mike. If he was there, he was there and he was definitely seeing that. Arman. Before I let you go, I have to ask what happened with The Exit. What was the incident there with the fan? Did you know that person? No, I didn't know the guys, when the next time you made fun of his fans because he showed me the finger and tried to hit me or whatever. but it was like kind of uh, my defense, you know, I, I, can't somebody let me hit me because I have a back, uh, I got hit back, so that's why you know I'm from a different country, You know no one Can you show me that finger?

You gotta like show me from far far away and you can talk from far away, but when you're close to me you can go on, I can kick your ass, guys, no. Don't do that please, well I certainly won't, Arman, congratulations on this great victory. I know how much this meant to you, so we look forward to seeing what happens to you next and who you'll face and when you'll face them. Congratulations, enjoy this. one tonight both no no no next one is a title fight Islam maacha done well done he is also the matchmaker