Khamzat Chimaev’s star teammate under fire after admitting blame for ‘boring’ UFC 319 fight… ‘So it’s your fault?’

Arman Tsarukyan admits he rejected Khamzat Chimaev’s request to change style at UFC 319

Among the major names in Chimaev’s UFC 319 camp was Arman Tsarukyan, the promotion’s top lightweight contender.

The Russian-Armenian paused his focus on the push for a title shot at 155 pounds to help Chimaev realize his title ambitions, aiding his training before UFC 319 and guiding him from the corner on fight night.

During a recent video uploaded to the YouTube channel of Adam Zubayraev, another member of the new champ’s entourage, Tsarukyan reflected on Chimaev’s victory and admitted he had pushed for ‘Borz’ to perform as he did.

“The plan was to wrestle, try not to get into exchanges,” Tsarukyan said.

“I told him, ‘The only way you can lose to him is if you brawl with him and let your emotions take over. If you take him down and control him, then control him. Don’t rush for a submission right away and lose position. It’s better to calmly win rounds than to go for submissions, miss it, lose position, and have to take him down again.'”

Tsarukyan later reiterated that mindset, even revealing that he rejected Chimaev’s request to strike with Du Plessis ahead of round four at UFC 319.

“Before going into the fourth, he says, ‘Brother, now can I move around in the standup?’ I said, ‘No, go in, do the same thing, you’ll win three to nothing.’

“Why come up with something new?”

Fans slam ‘coward’ Arman Tsarukyan for Khamzat Chimaev’s polarizing UFC 319 gameplan

Tsarukyan’s admission of responsibility divided opinion in the MMA community.

Those who were left unsatisfied by the UFC 319 main event took their frustration out on the lightweight contender, with some going as far as to call him a “coward” for his advice to Chimaev.

“So we were boring because of Arman…”

“Arman’s advice was to stall and avoid combat at all costs (laughing emoji).”

“@ArmanUfc So it’s your fault the fight was s—. This is why you’re not getting a title shot.”

“Arman is the definition of a coward. He is not risking anything.”

“He is damaging the fight business and the stardom of Khamzat.”

“You suck Arman.”

But not everyone was critical. Others praised Tsarukyan for a logical approach that ultimately saw his man leave the cage with the UFC middleweight title.

“Sound advice.”

“Solid advice, won the fight.”

“I thought the exact same thing.”

“Solid team around him and good for him for listening to his corner.”

“Arman gave him the gameplan of a lifetime.”

“Khamzat was gone if he started striking with DDP.”

“Arman Tsarukyan is that good friend to have around.”