Arman Tsarukyan left no doubt in his grappling showdown with Benson Henderson, dominating the former UFC lightweight champion at Absolute Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 18 in Moscow.
The match, promoted as a clash of generations, showcased just how sharp Tsarukyan’s skills have become as the UFC’s top lightweight contender.
At 28, he had youth and speed firmly on his side against the 41-year-old Henderson – and it showed from the opening exchange.
Tsarukyan wasted little time establishing control.
He pressured Henderson with relentless submission chains, attacking from front headlocks into D’Arce choke setups, while mixing in kimura threats to keep his opponent guessing.
Despite Henderson’s reputation as a seasoned black belt, his offense never got going; his performance was more about survival than countering.
That survival finally ran out in the closing moments.
Tsarukyan transitioned smoothly into an Arm Triangle Choke, jumping across Henderson’s body to secure the finish.
Henderson resisted as long as he could, but eventually went unconscious, forcing the referee to step in with just over a minute left on the clock.
After the victory, Tsarukyan was confronted on the mats by former UFC fighter Mairbek Taisumov, setting the stage for a future grappling match that promises fireworks.
Arman Tsarukyan chokes Benson Henderson to sleep with an arm triangle at ACBJJ 18 pic.twitter.com/abvIlGkLat
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 19, 2025
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