Arman Tsarukyan, currently holding the number one spot in the lightweight division rankings, has expressed his desire to compete at UFC 317.
Boasting a professional record of 22 wins and 3 losses, Tsarukyan was originally slated to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight championship at UFC 311 in January. However, a back injury unfortunately forced him to withdraw from the highly anticipated bout just one day prior to the event.
As a consequence of his withdrawal, Renato Moicano stepped up from the undercard to replace Tsarukyan in the main event. Following this development, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Tsarukyan would need to secure another victory to re-earn a shot at Makhachev`s title.
The landscape of the lightweight division saw a significant shift earlier this week when Makhachev announced his intention to pursue welterweight gold against Jack Della Maddalena, thereby vacating his lightweight belt. This turn of events has set up a matchup between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira (an opponent Tsarukyan recently defeated at UFC 300) to compete for the newly vacant championship at UFC 317.
Having recently declined a UFC offer he described as `disrespectful,` Tsarukyan now has a strong indication of who his next opponent will likely be and when the fight might take place.
Arman Tsarukyan Believes Justin Gaethje is His Next Logical Opponent at UFC 317
Examining the current UFC lightweight rankings, Arman Tsarukyan and former BMF Champion Justin Gaethje stand out as the only fighters within the top five who do not currently have a fight scheduled.
Both athletes were prominent figures in the title picture earlier this year, and it is widely considered that securing one more win could position either fighter for another championship opportunity.
When questioned about his probable next opponent during an appearance on The Jaxxon Podcast, Tsarukyan stated, “I feel like it’s supposed to be Gaethje.”
He elaborated on why the matchup makes sense: “It all makes sense. Oliveira fighting for the title. Gaethje has no fight. Poirier fighting with Max Holloway for the BMF title… Me and Justin [don’t] have a fight. So, it makes sense.”
Tsarukyan Willing to Step in as Backup for Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
Tsarukyan mentioned that the UFC had suggested a fight date in October, but the top-ranked contender is eager to maintain activity and prefers to compete sooner.
With the vacant title fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira scheduled for June 28th at UFC 317, Tsarukyan is not only amenable to facing Gaethje on the same card but is also ready to step in as a potential replacement should either Topuria or Oliveira be forced to withdraw from the main event.
Proposing the potential co-main event, Tsarukyan suggested, “International Fight Week, me versus Gaethje.”
He highlighted the strategic advantage of this booking: “Who knows if someone gets hurt, me or Gaethje can fight for the title.”
Reflecting on the UFC 311 card which featured other ranked fighters like Dariush and Moicano, Tsarukyan concluded, “They put Dariush and Moicano on that card [UFC 311]. I think they need someone like a bigger name and ranked fighter on that card,” implying the value of having a high-profile backup like himself or Gaethje for the UFC 317 event.
