Following UFC 311, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Arman Tsarukyan wouldn’t walk back into a lightweight title shot after withdrawing from the card due to a bad back. Usually that wouldn’t sit too well with an injured fighter, but “Ahalkalakets” says he agrees with White’s decision.
”No, he’s going back to the drawing board,” White said of Tsarukyan’s future. “You miss opportunities sometimes, and he did. We’ll see how things play out for him next year.”
“I agree with Dana White,” Tsarukyan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true No. 1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me!”
Arman Tsarukyan’s title shot against Islam Makhachev has been almost a year in the making. He earned it off a split decision win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April 2024. He then turned down an opportunity to fight Islam at UFC 302 in June, preferring to wait until an expected October date in Abu Dhabi. But Makhachev suffered a hand injury and was unable to compete at the event, pushing things back to January 2025.
Between Tsarukyan’s injury and Makhachev’s growing list of potential opponents in multiple weight classes, we’d be lucky to see the two compete by the end of the year. That’s a real shame because Tsarukyan represents the greatest stylistic threat to Makhachev that we can see across the 155 pound division.
For now, Tsarukyan is calling for a rematch with Charles Oliveira, but he’ll take all challengers, even foolish ones.
“Charles ‘Do Bronx’ in a 5 rounder makes most sense,” he wrote, and we agree that two more rounds would help settle the debate over who deserved to win their UFC 300 clash.
“You don’t show up, you don’t get a shot,” Michael Chandler tweeted. “Beat me, if you can, Arman.”
“I’m not against it, but fighting someone who beat you twice sounds way more compelling,” Tsarukyan replied.
Who do you want to see Arman Tsarukyan fight next, Maniacs? Let us know in the comments below!
