Arman Tsarukyan to Change Nickname Ahead of UFC 331 and Enter the Octagon as “Batman”

Arman Tsarukyan, currently ranked No. 2 in the UFC lightweight division, has announced that he is changing his fighting nickname. The 29-year-old is expected to enter the Octagon as “Batman” at UFC 331.

Tsarukyan revealed his decision during an interview with well-known journalist Ariel Helwani. Throughout his UFC career, the Armenian fighter had previously been known by the nickname “Akhalkalakets,” a reference to his birthplace, the Georgian town of Akhalkalaki.

Tsarukyan has now decided to move away from his former nickname in favor of a more universal and recognizable identity. His new “Batman” moniker is expected to officially accompany him for the first time at UFC 331.

The event is scheduled to take place on September 19 in Los Angeles, California. Tsarukyan will compete in the co-main event, where he is set to face Mauricio Ruffy, the No. 7-ranked fighter in the lightweight division.

The UFC had originally planned to match Tsarukyan against former champion Charles Oliveira. However, the Brazilian withdrew from the fight for personal reasons, forcing the promotion to find a new opponent for the Armenian contender.

The upcoming bout will mark Tsarukyan’s first appearance since November 2025. In his previous fight, he earned a convincing victory over Dan Hooker and continued his push toward a potential UFC lightweight title shot.

Tsarukyan has long been regarded as one of the leading contenders for the lightweight championship. His prospects have also been highly rated by other prominent names in the division, including Justin Gaethje.

During his professional MMA career, Arman Tsarukyan has competed in 26 fights, recording 23 victories and three defeats. He began his professional career in September 2015 and made his UFC debut in April 2019. In addition to mixed martial arts, Tsarukyan also has an extensive wrestling background.

As a result, one of the lightweight division’s leading title contenders will head into UFC 331 not only with championship ambitions but also with a new fighting identity. Fans will now have to get used to seeing Arman Tsarukyan introduced as “Batman.”