UFC Austin: No 8 ranked lightweight Arman Tsarukyan scores incredible first-round KO over No 4 Beneil Dariush to dash rival's title hopes

No 8 ranked UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan shocked No 4 Beneil Dariush with a brutal knockout inside two minutes in the UFC Austin main event. 

Tsarukyan caught Dariush with a right hand after breaking a clinch which put Dariush on his back.

Tsarukyan then followed with ground strikes before referee Dan Miragliotta stepped in to stop the fight with only a minute and four seconds gone. 

It means the 27-year-old has now secured three straight knockout wins and his MMA record now stands at 21-3 (8-2 in the UFC). 

Following the fight, Tsarukyan praised Dariush for his humility and for being the only top-five lightweight who was willing to fight him.

'He is the most respectful fighter in our division,' Tsarukyan said of Dariush. 'Nobody in the top-five wanted to fight.'

'Because of him, now I am a top-five fighter,' Tsarukyan added. 'Hopefully the next one is for the title.' 

Tsarukyan was beaten by UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev - when he was just 22 - back in 2019. He took the fight on short notice and it was his second career loss. 

On Saturday night, Tsarukyan was adamant that he is much improved and can challenge Makhachev for the title four years after their initial meeting. 

'I was 22 years old, now I'm 27, I improved,' Tsarukyan said. 'Next fight is gonna be different, I'm gonna knock him out.'

Tsarukyan also said he was open to fighting No 2 lightweight Justin Gaethje for the BMF belt before challenging Makhachev for the undisputed title. 

Tsarukyan scored his tenth knockout victory on top of five submission wins over his career. Tsarukyan was also given a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.