Arman Tsarukyan, NHL player? UFC 331 star describes what could've been

LOS ANGELES – Before he was a UFC superstar and world-famous streamer, Arman Tsarukyan had dreams of being known for his abilities on ice.

Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) co-headlines Saturday's UFC 331 at Crypto.com Arena ( Paramount+ ) and what a journey it's been. His athletic origins haven't always been fight-centric, Tsarukyan revealed Wednesday. Apparently, hockey was his first love and is still something he's passionate about.

"I wanted to be a hockey player," Tsarukyan told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. "My dream was to go to the U.S. and play in the NHL. But I couldn't be a good hockey player, and then I started working. I didn't like working, and I became a fighter. Because of fighting, now I'm in U.S. and fighting in the best promotion in UFC. My hockey career was so good. I love hockey and when I have time even now sometimes I play."

Born in Armenia, Tsarukyan doesn't associate with a specific NHL team. However, his favorite player he revealed without hesitation.

"I like (Alexander) Ovechkin ," Tsarukyan said.

How far Tsarukyan would've gone in hockey remains unclear, but it's almost certainly not as far as he's gone in the fight world. A win Saturday over Mauricio Ruffy could get him the long-awaited title shot he's dreamed of.

"Yeah, 100 percent," Tsarukyan said of what his odds are of fighting for gold should he win Saturday.

Despite radiating confidence, Tsarukyan didn't hold back on his compliments of Ruffy (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), the tricky and flashy striker who trains alongside former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and current UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski . While Tsarukayn admitted Ruffy is a unique test unlike any he's faced before, his prediction didn't waver. The biggest thing he thinks he needs to do is weather the storm, and the fight will be his.

"You cannot compare Adesanya with me," Tsarukyan said. "You cannot compare Volkanovski with me. It's completely different fighters. He has the power and he has good striking, but I'm better everywhere with my wrestling and my striking that I can mix. I can over-strike him."

"... He has a really awkward style. I've never faced anybody like his striking. It's going to be a little bit dangerous in the first round, but second round should be good."