Arman Tsarukyan gave the MMA world an unplanned laugh this week after he accidentally launched his coach out of the cage during a routine training session.
In a video shared to Instagram, the UFC lightweight contender was seen drilling a spinning back kick during pads when disaster struck. His coach, standing in front of an unlocked cage door, caught the full force of the strike and went flying through the opening, landing hard on the ground outside.
“Can somebody please keep the cage closed?” Tsarukyan wrote in the caption, throwing his hands in the air before running over to check on his coach.
Fortunately, the coach wasn’t seriously injured thanks to protective gear, but the clip quickly made its rounds online—adding some levity to what has otherwise been a frustrating year for the Armenian-Russian fighter.
Arman Tsarukyan was originally slated to challenge then-lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in January at UFC 311. However, a last-minute back injury forced him out of the title bout, derailing what would have been the biggest fight of his career. UFC CEO Dana White made it clear that Tsarukyan would now have to earn another win before getting back into title contention.
He later served as the backup fighter for UFC 317, where Ilia Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to claim the lightweight crown after Makhachev vacated to chase gold at 170. Since then, Tsarukyan has remained in training mode with no fight officially booked.
He’s currently working out in California, preparing alongside names like Khamzat Chimaev as both men gear up for their next appearances. While Chimaev is set to return at UFC 319 against middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, Tsarukyan continues to wait on his next call. Potential opponents in the pipeline include Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett, and Dan Hooker.
Despite the delays, Tsarukyan’s name remains hot in the lightweight title picture. The coach-launching incident may have gone viral for its comedy, but it’s also a reminder of the power and timing Tsarukyan brings to every session. Once that cage door is locked, someone’s getting folded.
