How Loose Shorts Saved Arman Tsarukyan From Defeat at UFC 300

 

 

 

 

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The highly anticipated lightweight clash at UFC 300 between Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira almost ended in the very first minute. Oliveira, the UFC's all-time submission leader, locked in a deep, menacing guillotine choke that appeared completely inescapable. Most fans and commentators believed the fight was over, yet Tsarukyan somehow survived the initial onslaught, battled back, and ultimately secured a crucial split-decision victory.

According to former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier, Tsarukyan’s salvation came down to an unexpected wardrobe malfunction. Speaking on the Deep Waters podcast, Poirier broke down the technical gravity of the moment. He explained that as Oliveira squeezed, Tsarukyan’s fight shorts began to slip downward. This sudden shift in fabric altered the friction between the fighters' bodies.

Crucially, the sliding material forced Oliveira’s locked legs to slide down Tsarukyan’s hips, breaking the guard needed to seal the choke. Without that rigid leverage, the choke lost its lethal pressure, allowing Tsarukyan to slip his head free. While Tsarukyan showed immense grit, Poirier noted that this tiny clothing situation fundamentally altered the trajectory of the entire fight.