What is Arman Tsarukyan's religion? Exploring UFC lightweight's cultural and ethnic background

Arman Tsarukyan is on a quest to capture UFC gold, which is currently held by Islam Makhachev. He'd suffered a unanimous decision defeat against Makhachev in April 2019. Their rematch, this time with Makhachev's UFC lightweight championship at stake, headlines UFC 311 on Jan. 18, 2025.

Born in Akhalkalaki, Georgia, in October 1996, Arman Tsarukyan hails from a family of Armenian descent. Arman's father, Nairi Tsarukyan, migrated with his family to Russia in 1999. Nairi eventually established a formidable business empire, which Arman and his brother are also a part of.

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What is Arman Tsarukyan's religion?

Arman Tsarukyan represents Armenia as a professional MMA fighter. Some fans seemingly believe he's a Muslim, owing to 'Arman' being a popular name in Islamic communities. Nevertheless, Arman Tsarukyan is a Christian and shares cultural connections with three Christian-majority nations,namely Armenia, Georgia, and Russia.

Tsarukyan extensively resides and trains in Russia. He's met with and hailed the nation's prominent public personalities like MMA great Fedor Emelianenko and President Vladimir Putin.

On The MMA Hour in June 2024, Ariel Helwani asked whether Arman Tsarukyan spoke Arabic. Tsarukyan stated that he didn't and asked him the same. Helwani replied that he speaks some Arabic, as his mother's from Lebanon and his father's from Egypt.

Tsarukyan inferred Helwani was Muslim, given Lebanese and Egyptian heritage. However, Helwani clarified that he was Jewish, adding that Lebanon and Egypt's Jewish population in the 1960s/1970s was much higher as compared to that in 2024. Helwani then questioned whether Tsarukyan was Christian, to which the fighter answered:

"Yeah."

Watch the segment below (20:00):

Helwani also affirmed that all people were "one," regardless of religious differences, to which Tsarukyan concurred. The segment elicited mixed reactions. Some netizens deemed it as unintentionally hilarious, given Tsarukyan's supposed nonchalance.

Tsarukyan subsequently spoke to Adam Zubayraev and Tambi on Hustle Show episode #14 in July 2024 and shed light on having pulled a long-term prank on his coach.

Tsarukyan recounted pranking one of his coaches, over a two-year span, into believing he was a Muslim. 'Ahalkalakets' indicated that he trains at ATT (American Top Team), a gym comprising many Muslim fighters from Dagestan, Russia. He added:

"There, Mohammed the coach says, 'When you see Arman, always tell him salaam alaikum' ... And the coaches always 'salaam alaikum' to me. I say, 'Wa-alaikum as-salaam.' And he thinks I'm also ... Muslim. And he, the coach, he, too, 'Inshallah,' he knows everything ... And it's been about two years. And I say, 'Coach, I'm not a Muslim.' And he says, 'How is not a Muslim? And why did 'Maga' always say that?' I say, 'Yeah. He's messing with me on purpose.'"

Watch them discuss the topic below (20:15):