Nurmagomedov dismisses Tsarukyan as a wrestling nobody, demands Sadulaev and Snyder

Abubakar Nurmagomedov has publicly dismissed Arman Tsarukyan as an unworthy freestyle wrestling opponent, insisting he only wants to face the sport’s true giants — Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Dauren Kurugliev, or Kyle Snyder. The comments came in a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, shortly after Nurmagomedov’s return to wrestling competition following a three-year absence.

Last weekend in Istanbul, Turkey, Nurmagomedov stepped onto the mat under the AIGA banner against former UFC opponent David Zawada, pinning him in just 60 seconds — avenging a UFC defeat that dated back to 2019. The swift victory appeared to sharpen his appetite for bigger challenges in the wrestling world.

When asked about a potential matchup with Tsarukyan — a top-ranked UFC lightweight who regularly competes in freestyle wrestling — Nurmagomedov was blunt. “No, I want Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Dauren Kurugliev, or Kyle Snyder,” he said. “Why should I face some no-names? Give me those giants of freestyle wrestling.”

Beyond personal ambition, Nurmagomedov framed his wrestling pursuits as a broader mission to restore the sport’s faded profile. “That’s what I’m here for,” he told Red Corner MMA. “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.”

Tsarukyan, nicknamed “The Batman”, has built a reputation as one of the UFC’s most dangerous lightweights and is no stranger to wrestling competition outside the cage. Nurmagomedov’s dismissal is a pointed snub, though it stops short of any personal animosity — his sights are simply set on decorated world-class wrestlers rather than MMA crossover names.

Nurmagomedov (17-4 in MMA) is not stepping away from the cage either. He is scheduled to return to mixed martial arts competition against David Martinez (17-6) at PFL Dubai on November 14.