Abubakar Nurmagomedov dismisses Arman Tsarukyan as a ‘No-Name’ in Wrestling
Abubakar Nurmagomedov has returned to wrestling, but he already has some of the biggest names in mind for his next match.
Arman Tsarukyan is one of the UFC’s top lightweights. On the wrestling mat, though, Abubakar Nurmagomedov does not seem particularly impressed.
Nurmagomedov returned to wrestling last weekend at an AIGA event in Istanbul, facing former UFC opponent David Zawada. He needed just 60 seconds to win by pinfall. Soon after, a question about Tsarukyan gave him a chance to name the kind of opponent he actually wants.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov Has No Interest in Arman Tsarukyan
Tsarukyan has become a familiar face on the wrestling circuit alongside his MMA career. Nurmagomedov, however, isn't looking in his direction.
“No, I want Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Dauren Kurugliev, or Kyle Snyder,” Nurmagomedov told Red Corner MMA.
“Why should I face some no-names? Give me those giants of freestyle wrestling.”
Abubakar Nurmagomedov says he wants to face the biggest names in freestyle wrestling in super fights, while also looking to put the sport back on the map and remind people about the beauty of freestyle wrestling.
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 21, 2026
“Arman? No… I want Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Dauren Kurugliev, or… pic.twitter.com/97mUE2c0jv
The three names explain the level of competition Nurmagomedov wants. Sadulaev and Snyder are Olympic champions, while Kurugliev has also competed at the highest level of international wrestling.
For Nurmagomedov, the appeal is in facing established wrestling stars rather than another MMA fighter with a background in the sport.
Tsarukyan does not fit that description.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov Wants to Put Wrestling Back on the Map
There is another reason Nurmagomedov has returned to the mat. He believes freestyle wrestling has lost some of its popularity, and he wants to help change that. His comeback is not just about finding opponents for himself.
“That’s what I’m here for,” he said. “We need to put freestyle wrestling back on the map because people forgot about it. We need to remind everyone of it. I'm here to show the beauty of freestyle wrestling.”
That mission gives his return a bigger purpose. Nurmagomedov has already made an emphatic start, getting past Zawada in a minute.
