Legendary commentator Joe Rogan recently heaped praises on MMA legend Arman Tsarukyan for his uncommon exploits. Rogan described Tsarukyan’s rise in the promotion as a sharp defiance of one of the biggest myths in combat sports. For many athletes, the conventional “rags-to-riches” trope has defined their careers. However, Rogan is excited that Tsarukyan is piling a different route that challenges everyone to think differently about this myth.
Born in 1996 in Georgia to an Armenian family, Tsarukyan is the middle child of three children. His father, Nairi, is a successful businessman in the construction industry. His mother, Anahit, is also part of the family business. While many athletes trace their sustained grit and dedication to a poor background, Arman tells a unique story.
How Arman Tsarukyan is rewriting a popular myth about MMA fighters
Tsarukyan’s dedication and discipline were clear from the start. Despite the luxe lifestyle his family afforded him, he focused on becoming an elite-level MMA fighter. He defied a devastating knockout loss in his second professional fight, and bounced back to the ring with renewed hope. Soon, the 29-year-old was on a winning streak and would soon catch the UFC’s attention. This story, Rogan feels, is all the MMA community needs to reevaluate the sometimes prideful rags-to-riches trope.
“His dad’s a billionaire, but he’s not lazy at all. He flies in the face of the long-standing belief that if you come from a rich family, you can’t be a great fighter. It doesn’t matter if you come from the ghetto, he’s gonna f**k you up.
Some dudes are like, ‘I’m from the favelas.’ Good luck with that Armenian psychopath. Built like a Greek god, can wrestle.”
Chances are that support from the Tsarukyan family helped buoy his push into the sport. Following his victory over Davi Ramos, Tsarukyan’s dad gifted him a brand-new BMW M5 to further encourage his drive. Despite having a family that owns real estate, luxury cars, and tours the world’s most exclusive resorts, he remains undistracted. Arman Tsarukyan remains one of the hardest workers in the gym, and deserves all the accolades he can get, including Rogan’s.
