Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan still doesn’t have a fight, and doesn’t know if he’ll be fighting for a title next or not.
What he believes, however, is that current 155lb UFC champion Ilia Topuria is ducking him.
Tsarukyan (22-3) was to have fought for gold against Islam Makhachev earlier this year, only to withdraw due to injury at the last minute. He was replaced by Renato Moicano (who didn’t fare well), and wound up in Dana White’s dog house as a result.
Still, Tsarukyan is ranked #2 in the 155lb division, with only Makhachev ahead of him. That’s a mere formality, as Makhachev vacated his title earlier this year to pursue a second belt at welterweight. Since then, Topuria claimed the lightweight crown, defeating Charles Oliveira in the process.
Speaking at an open workout ahead of UFC 319, where training partner Khamzat Chimaev features, Tsarukyan addressed a report by Chael Sonnen that he’d be fighting Topuria next.
“I hope so. I hope so. I want to fight for the title. I’ve been waiting for so long. Chael Sonnen maybe knows something,” Topuria told media outlets including Cageside Press. “They didn’t tell anything yet to me. So I’m still waiting, training, and trying to call out Ilia as much as possible.”
As to why Topuria doesn’t seem interested in fighting Tsarukyan (the champ has suggested he’d rather drop the belt, as he has his eyes on yet a third title, at 170lbs), Arman suggested that “He feels that he’s going to lose that fight; it’s better to give the belt or go up than wait [to see] what happens with me. Because he knows I’m a big problem for him, and I’m going to get his title.”
“He knows that, and he wants to get an easy fight with Paddy [Pimblett] or [Justin] Gaethje or someone. Just make money, and do the fans. But with me, it’s going to be hard for him.”
Pimblett might be the frontrunner in that department. The British star and the champ have a history dating back to an incident in 2022; the pair faced off inside the octagon following Topuria’s title win to close out this year’s International Fight Week.
“Yeah, for sure” was Arman Tsarukyan’s answer when asked whether Topuria was ducking him. But if the fight doesn’t come to pass, he’s open to names like Dan Hooker, who he was previously booked against. “If they’re not going to give me Ilia I’ll fight with Hooker, but my goal is a title fight. And right now, I’m just focusing on the title fight, because I know I deserve it, and I’m contender number one. So that fight makes sense.”
With the support of other fighters, however, as well as a good percentage of fans, Tsarukyan might get his wish just yet. “People know who is the best, who’s got to fight for the title,” he told Cageside Press. Otherwise, he suggested, the promotion runs the risk of fans hating whatever other match-up they book, “because it’s not fair for me and for other ones. People support me, and we’re going to get that title fight.”
Watch the full media appearance with Arman Tsarukyan above.
