Arman Tsarukyan explained why world champion Maksim Manukyan ended his MMA career

Famous Armenian UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan shared in one of Adam Zubairaev’s vlogs the story of why decorated Greco-Roman wrestler Maksim Manukyan decided to quit his career in mixed martial arts.

According to Tsarukyan, Manukyan, a world and European champion, tried himself in MMA and even had four professional fights, winning all of them. However, after a year of training, he admitted that this sport was not for him.

“There is such a great wrestler, Maksim Manukyan. He is a world champion, a multiple European champion in Greco-Roman wrestling. He trained, tried for a year, had four professional fights and won all of them. But then he said: ‘Arman, this is not for me at all. When I come to training and get punched in the face, I realize this is not my sport.’ So he ended his MMA career,” said Tsarukyan.

Now 37 years old, Manukyan is the 2017 Greco-Roman wrestling world champion and the 2018 European champion. He competed in MMA in 2021–2022, after which he returned to wrestling and represented Armenia at the 2023 World Championships.

Currently, Manukyan continues to compete in Greco-Roman wrestling tournaments in the United States.