Arman Tsarukyan has broken a stereotype about him. He is walking away from the problematic persona he created in the UFC. And now, he even has an award to prove it. The 29-year-old has received the ‘Person of the Year’ award at the LA City Council Chamber during the city’s official Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day event on April 24, 2026.

“Arman Tsarukyan honored with a ‘Person of the Year’ award in Los Angeles,” Red Corner MMA wrote on X.

They also shared a clip of the Armenian lightweight receiving a certificate of excellence from Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian and Capri Maddox, the general manager of the LA Civil Rights Department. Of course, Nazarian represents a district with a large Armenian-American community. 

Arman was presented with the honor of recognizing his outstanding achievements and representation of the Armenian community. According to reports on social media, the No. 2 lightweight contender also made a statement after being honored with the award. 

“It is incredibly pleasant to receive the ‘Person of the Year’ award in Los Angeles—a city that holds a special place in my life,” Tsarukyan said. “For me, this is not just an award, but a sign of recognition of my path, efforts, and faith in what I do. Los Angeles has become for me a source of inspiration, a place where dreams come true and new goals are born. That is why this award feels especially significant and touching here.”

It’s also worth noting that this was a one-off civic honor rather than part of a long-running annual list with publicly documented previous recipients. In any case, though, the honor is in stark contrast to what had happened to the 29-year-old just days ago. 

Arman Tsarukyan was forced to leave an American Airlines flight

Earlier this month, Arman Tsarukyan was supposed to fight Urijah Faber at RAF 08 in Philadelphia. However, as he was making his way to Philadelphia, he was forced to leave an American Airlines flight. Why? Well, according to reports, a disagreement over seating escalated prior to takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport.

Tsarukyan said the situation began when he asked a flight attendant if he could switch to an empty seat to be more comfortable. 

“There are 11 of us… there were three empty seats,” Tsarukyan said after beating Faber during the press conference for the event. “My seat was next to my friend, and he’s a little bit big. I asked… ‘Can I sit here?’ She said, ‘Where’s your seat?’ I said, ‘29A.’ She said, ‘Go there.’”

Tsarukyan admitted he then chose to sit in another open seat anyway, which appeared to frustrate the crew. Tensions rose further when his teammates were briefly on their phones and using tray tables, prompting additional instructions from staff.

“Then all three of us got kicked out from the plane,” Tsarukyan said.

He later reached his destination via private jet, joking that his teammates envied the unexpected upgrade.

In the span of just a few days, Arman Tsarukyan has experienced two starkly contrasting moments. Being removed from a flight and receiving an award highlights how quickly circumstances can shift. But amid the swings off the canvas, the bigger question remains: will his standing in the UFC ever change?