UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has successfully completed another “side quest” on his journey to the title, submitting Muhammad Mokaev in the main event of Hype Brazil. The submission-only grappling match, held at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, saw the Armenian-Russian powerhouse utilise a massive size advantage to put the former flyweight star to sleep.
The matchup was a late-notice affair after Tsarukyan’s original opponent withdrew, and the three-division weight gap was evident from the opening whistle. While Mokaev showed early resilience with his scrambling, Tsarukyan eventually used heavy pressure to pass to mount, transitioned to the back, and locked in a rear-naked choke in the seventh minute of the 10-minute contest.
Arman Tsarukyan puts Muhammad Mokaev to sleep at Hype Brazil https://t.co/T9e5hpbKiQ
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) March 12, 2026
Tsarukyan Targets Oliveira and Danis
Following the victory, Tsarukyan made it clear that while he is enjoying his time outside the Octagon, his focus remains on UFC gold. However, he wasted no time in calling out new targets for his next grappling appearances.
“This is just a side quest, but my goal is a UFC title. Soon, I will hold the UFC belt and the BMF belt,” Tsarukyan told the Rio crowd. He then called for a “Hype title defence” against UFC legend Charles Oliveira in Sao Paulo and issued a challenge to BJJ lightning rod Dillon Danis, stating: “Grapple me, come on bro… I am going to smoke you.”
Double Draws: Silva, Mitchell, and Barboza
The co-main events proved less decisive under the “submission-only” ruleset. Jean Silva and Bryce Mitchell engaged in a high-paced wrestling-heavy match that saw several reversals, but neither man could find a finish within the eight-minute time limit, resulting in a draw.
The night’s most eccentric moment followed, as Mitchell complained about not being allowed to carry the American flag into the arena, subsequently stripping down to reveal U.S. flag-patterned underwear in a move that baffled the Brazilian audience.
In the third marquee grappling match, Shara “Bullet” Magomedov faced veteran Edson Barboza. Shara Bullet utilised his wrestling to secure top control, but the abbreviated 6-minute clock prevented any significant submission threats, leading to the second draw of the main card.
The Hype Brazil Circus: Bareknuckle and Brawls
While the UFC veterans provided the elite grappling, the event was frequently interrupted by the antics of ring announcer and UFC fighter Valter Walker. In a display of true Brazilian chaos, Walker repeatedly went off-script, making up rules on the fly and even booking unplanned bare-knuckle fights between members of the audience and security staff throughout the broadcast.
The event served as a wild precursor to Tsarukyan’s next scheduled appearance: a freestyle wrestling rematch against Giorgio Poullas at RAF 07 on March 28, following their controversial brawl earlier this month.