Tsarukyan faced former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev, and the three division difference was very evident from the get go. Mokaev scrambled and defended numerous entries well, but Tsarukyan used that significant size and strength advantage to good use. He used nice pressure to pass to mount, before eventually getting his back and putting Mokaev to sleep with a rear naked choke.
”This is just a side quest, but my goal is a UFC title. Soon, I will hold the UFC belt and the BMF belt,” Tsarukyan said after the match.
While he spoke about being a UFC champion, Tsarukyan also called out Dillon Danis for yet another grappling match outside the promotion. He also called out the new UFC BMF champion, saying “I want to fight Charles Oliveira” for his first Hype title defense.
Jean Silva vs. Bryce Mitchell, Shara Magomedov vs. Edson Barboza end in draws
Jean Silva and Bryce Mitchell faced off in the co-main event, and it was a fairly entertaining match where the UFC standouts were able to exchange a couple of throws and reversals. The match had a good pace and fun moments, but neither came close to a finish in eight minutes, so the “submission only” match ended in a draw.
After the match, Mitchell complained about not being allowed to walk in with an American flag, so he then stripped down to reveal underwear with the US flag pattern.
In the third BJJ match between UFC veterans, Shara Magomedov got a takedown and remained on top for a couple of minutes against Edson Barboza. He didn’t really get any submission attempts in their way too brief 6-minute grappling contest, so the match also ended in a draw.
Barboza came in on extremely short notice after multiple changes to the card, which likely resulted to the shorter match time compared to the others. Unfortunately, that also meant a lack of time to work for a finish.
While the UFC fighters grappling were the main draw for Hype Brazil, what actually stole the show was the entire circus prior. UFC fighter Valter Walker who went beyond his ring announcer duties, as he kept making up rules, interrupting matches, and booking impromptu bareknuckle fights with the audience throughout the card.
FOR THE LATEST BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (BJJ) AND GRAPPLING-RELATED NEWS CLICK HERE. FOR ADDITIONAL GRAPPLING CONTENT, FOLLOW @BJJBEAT ON INSTAGRAM.
