Arman Tsarukyan just do in UFC 331 exactly what it needed to claim a chance again for the lightweight belt: knockout Mauricio Ruffy in the first round.
A particularly striking result because Armenian is known mainly for his wrestling. Tsarukyan managed to take the fight to his ground and ended up shutting down Ruffy with two elbows when there were only seconds left to finish the first round.
But around Arman there is a story much more particular than that of a simple-minded UFC.
¿Why Arman Tsarukyan He's a millionaire?
Tsarukyan was born in Georgia into an Armenian family who later moved to Russia. His family was not always rich. His father, Nairi Tsarukyan, started working in the construction sector and ended up developing a successful business career.
That economic growth allowed Arman to make a decision that few young fighters can afford: to focus almost entirely on becoming a professional sportsman.
Tsarukyan himself has also developed businesses outside the MMA and has never hidden his hobby for luxury cars, travel or a very different lifestyle from that of many wrestlers who came to the sport looking precisely to escape economic problems.
That combination of money and fighting ability also explains his new nickname.
Tsarukyan was traditionally known as "Ahalkalakets", a reference to Akhalkalaki, his hometown.
Now it's "Batman".
The nickname started as a joke among amateurs who compared him to Bruce Wayne: a rich man who, despite not needing it financially, decides to dedicate his life to fighting.
The comparison ended up growing so much on social media that Arman himself decided to adopt it officially. Interestingly, he has acknowledged that at first he didn’t even know too well who Bruce was Wayne.
And much of that new media dimension has another name behind it: Nina Drama.
¿Who is it Nina Drama and what relationship it has with Tsarukyan?
Nina Marie Daniele, known as Nina Drama, is a content creator that has become one of the most recognizable faces around UFC thanks to his interviews and videos with fighters.
His chemistry with Tsarukyan has generated millions of visualizations.
Videos of humor, jokes, travel and deliberately provocative content have caused many people to speculate even with a possible sentimental relationship between them.
There is no such relationship.
Tsarukyan has explained that they are friends and regular content partners. Nina has a partner and a lot of the videos that have fed those rumors are precisely part of the character that both exploit on social networks.
What's interesting is that Arman recognizes the impact Nina has had on her popularity.
For a long time Tsarukyan was known mainly by the most involved fans in the sport: extraordinary fighter, number one of the ranking, but with far less media tug than other #Clues.
That scenario has changed.
Today "Batman" has a recognizable character, generates content constantly and has managed to increase its popularity greatly without needing to modify who is within the octagon.
Because sport remains one of the best light weights in the world.
And after UFC 331 It is difficult to find arguments to deny him another tenure opportunity.
Tsarukyan has six consecutive victories and has just done something few expected: to finish a striker as dangerous as Ruffy by KO in the first round.
His candidacy, however, carries a major problem.
UFC already granted him an opportunity against Islam Makhshev in UFC 311.
Tsarukyan retired from the fight at almost the last moment due to back problems and Renato Moicano had to replace him.
That greatly deteriorated their relationship with the company.
Dan White later made it clear that Arman would have to win his chance again. Since then, Tsarukyan has felt that UFC demanded more than other people.
Nor did they help their problems outside the fighting.
In UFC 300 hit an amateur during his entry into the ketagon after a confrontation with him. Nevada Athletics Commission ended up punishing him with a fine of 25.000 dollars and a suspension.
More recently he starred in another controversial moment by heading Dan Hooker during a careo before his fight in Qatar.
These episodes have built a complicated relationship between Tsarukyan and UFC.
The Armenian has never had trouble demonstrating his level of sports. His main problem has been to convince the company that he can trust him when it comes time to build a big fight.
But after what happened in UFC 331, The situation is changing again.
Tsarukyan had already shown that he could fight the elite UFC was precisely against Makhachev and has since defeated names such as Charles Oliveira, Mateusz Gamrot, Beneil Dariush and Dan Hooker.
Now add to Mauricio Ruffy.
And it does it by KO.
This is because it partially eliminates one of the few sports reviews that could be made to his candidacy. Tsarukyan did not just use his wrestling to control a striker during five rounds.
It's over.
Champion Justin Gaethje continues to have other options around, including the possibility of re-crossing Ilia Topuria.
But yes UFC decides to reward only sports merit, it is difficult to build a list of candidates for lightweight placing someone ahead of Arman.
The millionaire who fights because he wants to, the friend of Nina Drama, the man who internet ended up becoming Batman and one of the most peculiar characters in UFC just solve the part that really mattered.
He closed the door to the octagon and knocked out Mauricio Ruffy.
Now it's up to UFC decide if all the problems of the past weigh more than what you are doing inside the cage.