Is it more or less impressive that Arman has accomplished what he has considering his background?

[Elegant]

I've always agreed with the narrative that MMA is a richer mans sport, as having the funds to be able to build the perfect team consisting of the most elite coaching in each discipline puts you at an insane advantage compared to others who just show up to their gyms weekly classes.

The power to be able to fly in the most accomplished coaches and fighters from all over the world for your camps and have them dedicating all their time and energy towards you winning your fight isn't cheap and is perhaps the greatest advantage one fighter could have over another outside of their fighting ability

Then there is the argument that it isn't easy to wake up and get punched in the face when you sleep on silk sheets.

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

The Dolce diet of Champions ain’t cheap, and the fries are soggy too

 

[Luthien]

Carmen is so smug I can't wait for Islam to put hands on him

 

[Fedorgasm]

Isn't Ilia rich? And he did ok in ufc

BJ Penn too

 

[Paladin]

I've always agreed with the narrative that MMA is a richer mans sport, as having the funds to be able to build the perfect team consisting of the most elite coaching in each discipline puts you at an insane advantage compared to others who just show up to their gyms weekly classes.

The power to be able to fly in the most accomplished coaches and fighters from all over the world for your camps and have them dedicating all their time and energy towards you winning your fight isn't cheap and is perhaps the greatest advantage one fighter could have over another outside of their fighting ability

Then there is the argument that it isn't easy to wake up and get punched in the face when you sleep on silk sheets.

Very true. The best of the best can afford to truly live for fighting, have unlimited freedom to travel and train as they please, or, build state of the art gyms and bring in top talent as sparring partners, the best diet, and equipment.

Being hungry and from the streets will be motivation, but good luck facing a lion like Islam who trains 24/7, lives that life 365 days, training with the cream of the crop training partners and coaches.

 

[Dobymick]

I think it's more impressive because it's just easier to stay in the family business instead of going out there and punch people in the face for the money you don't need. Most fighters comes from poor background chasing that dolla dolla bills

 

[Kenny95]

I think it's more impressive because it's just easier to stay in the family business instead of going out there and punch people in the face for the money you don't need. Most fighters comes from poor background chasing that dolla dolla bills

I tthink every red blooded male wants to be acknowledged as good at punching people in the face, some get weeded out by toughness, others get weeded out by skill. Arman has both, it's not unusual for a rich kid to try fighting, and most people keep doing it as long as they're winning. Arman hasnt been defeated many times so it's very easy to keep being the hammer when everyone looks like a nail

 

[piropiro]

It’s impressive and very unusual.

Sports where you are basically guaranteed to sustain some level of life altering damage are seldom attractive to people who can have many other options, from healthier sports such as tennis to all kinds of educational and professional paths.

I am from a middle class family, very far from any riches, but just the possibility to go to a good university plus the lack of “anger” and “danger” within my environment growing up, were enough to persuade me to quit competitive fighting at 19 despite continental titles in Sanda and offers for pro bouts in Kickboxing.

All my team mates who went pro were from fairly underprivileged backgrounds and had a lack of other opportunities plus a much higher inbuilt acceptance of risk and danger. For them life itself was already a fight.

The most talented guy I ever so, an incredible natural specimen in both athleticism and skills, quit to join the family’s company, making millions whilst looking forward to a healthy life … the same guy without those opportunities would very likely have become a world champion, he was an absolute freak (still now in his 40s can randomly show up at training from the office and put on a striking clinic on any 20yo pro).

 

[Young Calf Kick]

I was just thinking about this yesterday. That old Mike Tyson quote “fighting is for people who have nothing” came to mind. Tsarukyan might be the exception to this rule. Still, I checked his Wikipedia the other day;



If we assume this being accurate (Wikipedia always is!), he doesn’t sound that rich to me to be honest. Maybe his father’s business took off years later, but being forced to quit playing a sport to help your dad with the company doesn’t seem to be a upper class experience to me.

I agree with Bisping with what he said in a video he did with Teddy Atlass the other day discussing this fight, Arman saying this sounds like an insurance policy.

 

[Harlekin]

Isn't Ilia rich? And he did ok in ufc

BJ Penn too

His parents were refugees and immigrated to germany Age 0 - 7, they later went back to Georgia Age 7-15 and then Ilia and his brother went to spain 15- today without their parents.
Sounds like they were poor.

He is rich now of course.

 

[biscuitsbrah]

I was just thinking about this yesterday. That old Mike Tyson quote “fighting is for people who have nothing” came to mind. Tsarukyan might be the exception to this rule. Still, I checked his Wikipedia the other day;

View attachment 1079759

If we assume this being accurate (Wikipedia always is!), he doesn’t sound that rich to me to be honest. Maybe his father’s business took off years later, but being forced to quit playing a sport to help your dad with the company doesn’t seem to be a upper class experience to me.

I agree with Bisping with what he said in a video he did with Teddy Atlass the other day discussing this fight, Arman saying this sounds like an insurance policy.

Yeah sounds like he wasn’t born rich but his family ended up making money later

 

[MigitAs]

Anyone fighting in the UFC in 2025 off PED’s deserves respect imo.

 

[wolffanghameha]

Always super impressive, but someone like Arman or even Conor (supported by Dee) or any fighter who lived with their parents (eg Arnold Allen) is definitely less impressive than someone like Gomi who had to train wrestling with HS kids while working in a factory or something, renting somewhere after being disowned. Much more impressive, because it's simply a harder grind and it's more likely there are logistical obstacles (eg training costs, food costs, having to find work that leaves you free for training sessions while those who aren't covering living costs alone can be choosier about hours, equipment costs, travel costs) and you have to be more creative coming up with ways to train, compared to the dude who can just go to any gym whenever he wants, install a heavy bag at home, pay for lots of one-on-ones etc and can do it at the optimum time without having to wait for finances or logistics to be there.

Does depend on the country and area too somewhat. Eg some countries/areas have lower training costs, more open spaces for training, more cheap houses with gardens, different levels of tenant freedom. Medical is a bigger deal in America than some countries. America has HS wrestling for free in schools.

 

[dogsdonutsdragons]

it depends on the person. it should be an advantage. there have been a few examples of this through time. with the right mind its a huge advantage

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

No doubt easier... How many unemployed plumbers living off welfare have become a UFC double champ.

 

[Flower2dPeople]

It's in his DNA. If he wasn't a pro-fighter he'd be fighting random dudes in Glendale.

 

[HHJ]

I think it's impressive on its own, when someone can fight at an elite level because they want to and not out of necessity. It's not as common as the guys who do it because they came from nothing and already had been fighting on the street anyway.

Wether it's more or less, is up to you, but the fighter coming from nothing is quite a common story.

 

[usernamee]

How rich is his family? What do they do?

 

[fortheo]

I was just thinking about this yesterday. That old Mike Tyson quote “fighting is for people who have nothing” came to mind. Tsarukyan might be the exception to this rule. Still, I checked his Wikipedia the other day;

View attachment 1079759

If we assume this being accurate (Wikipedia always is!), he doesn’t sound that rich to me to be honest. Maybe his father’s business took off years later, but being forced to quit playing a sport to help your dad with the company doesn’t seem to be a upper class experience to me.

I agree with Bisping with what he said in a video he did with Teddy Atlass the other day discussing this fight, Arman saying this sounds like an insurance policy.

How rich is his family? What do they do?

From what I understand, his uncle is Gagik tsarukyan, one of the richest men in all of Armenia, and quite a shady figure. Give him a google sometime. *edit* That may have just been a sherdog myth lol

 

[fortheo]

If being poor was such an advantage in athletics simply because poverty motivates people to work hard, then poorer countries would have the most gold metals in the olympics. We know for a fact, though, that it is the richer countries who tend to perform better at the olympics overall, and it is all about resources and investments in training facilities and opportunity. The reality is that whatever extra motivation you might have from being poor pales in comparison to the advantages of having a plethora of top notch resources, infrastructure, and professionals readily available to you. Extra motivation is nice, but what good will it do you if you don't have access to the resources, knowledge, and infrastructures that are necessary to succeed?