UFC 300 results: Arman Tsarukyan wins split decision over Charles Oliveira in back-and-forth battle

Arman Tsarukyan took a big step forward in title contention after earning a split decision win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300.

It was a back-and-forth fight throughout but Tsarukyan’s wrestling combined with his ground and pound made the difference in the end. Two judges gave Tsarukyan the win with 29-28 scores with the third official giving the same 29-28 to Oliveira.

That was still enough for Tsarukyan to get the nod and extend his win streak to four in a row in the lightweight division.

“Thank you so much Oliveira, he’s one of the human guys, a good guy in our division,” Tsarukyan said afterwards. “I thought all judges were going to give me [the win] but it is what it is. I need to come back much stronger and better.”

An early exchange on the feet and a slip to the mat led to Oliveira grabbing a guillotine choke that had Tsarukyan’s face turning blood red as he battled to break free from the submission. He eventually slipped out of the choke but Oliveira immediately moved into the mount where he began raining down elbows and punches.

As Oliveira tried to maintain control, Tsarukyan exploded from the bottom and reversed positions where he started to employ his own ground and pound attack. A scramble while grappling led to Oliveira throwing a kick that blasted Tsarukyan in the face while he was still on the canvas, which led to referee Mark Smith pausing the action for the illegal blow.

On the restart and a warning for Oliveira from the referee, Tsarukyan asked for the same position back on the ground where he started looking for some nasty inside elbows. The lightweights eventually got back to the feet just before the horn sounded following a frantic opening round.

Tsarukyan turned to his wrestling in the second, pushing Oliveira against the cage and then working from inside the Brazilian’s guard. With Oliveira playing effective defense, Tsarukyan picked his moments to unleash his biggest punches and elbows including one that sliced open the former lightweight champion.

With blood pouring across Oliveira’s face, Tsarukyan’s confidence surged as he continued his offensive onslaught on the ground. Tsarukyan continued with that same strategy as time ticked away in the final round as he waited for the opportune moment to grab another takedown.

In side control, Tsarukyan unloaded a couple clubbing elbows that forced Oliveira to turn away, which allowed Georgian fighter to nearly take the back. Tsarukyan got a little too aggressive and he slipped off, which allowed Oliveira to quickly latch onto a D’arce choke but he ran out of time to fully apply the submission.

It was a razor-close fight throughout but Tsarukyan ultimately did more damage combined with a dominant top game that allowed him to secure the victory. Now he’s looking for a rematch with reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who he faced in his octagon debut back in 2019.

“It was five years ago, my short notice fight with Islam Makhachev,” Tsarukyan said. “I gave him the toughest fight. I believe myself next fight, I’m going to [beat] him. Just give me the opportunity.”