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Share on FacebookThe huge gap between a regular fitness enthusiast and an elite UFC fighter was on full display in Armenia. Arman Tsarukyan, the number one contender for the UFC lightweight title, stepped away from the octagon for a special submission grappling match. He headlined the Hype Fighting Championship event in Yerevan, defending his promotional grappling belt.
His opponent was Ankit Baiyanpuria, a highly popular Indian fitness influencer with over 7.5 million followers, famous for completing the grueling "75 Hard" challenge. While Baiyanpuria has a background in traditional Indian wrestling and even trained briefly in Dagestan, this match marked his official debut in competitive combat sports.
The rules were simple: submission-only, meaning no striking, no judges, and no points. The only way to win was to make the opponent tap out.
As soon as the match started, the professional difference became clear. Tsarukyan grabbed Baiyanpuria, lifted him completely off the mat, and slammed him down with a massive, spectacular suplex. The UFC star then completely controlled the ground action, throwing the influencer down multiple times. Tsarukyan quickly isolated Baiyanpuria's arm, locking in a deep armbar. The internet celebrity had no choice but to tap out just 2 minutes and 19 seconds into the first round. After the dominant win, Tsarukyan immediately called out BJJ specialist Dillon Danis for a future match.
