Arman Tsarukyan Calls for Max Holloway's Retirement After "Devastating" Loss

Last month, the highly anticipated BMF title clash between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 failed to live up to expectations, leaving fans underwhelmed by the lack of action. Oliveira dominated the bout by consistently employing a wrestling-heavy strategy, controlling Holloway and effectively shutting down his offensive attempts. After five rounds, the judges unanimously awarded the victory to the Brazilian, with Holloway appearing largely helpless and unable to mount an effective counter-attack.

Following the disappointing performance, whispers began circulating about a potential blockbuster fight between Holloway and Conor McGregor during International Fight Week. However, lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan quickly dismissed these rumors, asserting that the Hawaiian fighter is past his prime and no longer capable of competing at the sport's highest echelons.

On The Ariel Helwani Show, Tsarukyan minced no words, stating, “Max is done already. He’s just going to make money and then retire. He’s not that Max anymore. He was so bad. Last fight he looked so bad, it’s crazy. I was surprised. How you cannot wrestle? Zero wrestling. You’ve been in this sport for 20 years and you cannot even defend a takedown from Charles Oliveira. Charles Oliveira has no takedowns. He’s good at jiu-jitsu, but wrestling?”

Tsarukyan further voiced his belief that the lightweight division is being held back by established veterans like Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. He expressed his ambition to usher in a new era by becoming champion, potentially after defeating Ilia Topuria.

Arman Tsarukyan's Olympic Wrestling Ambitions

Arman Tsarukyan has been vigorously campaigning for a title shot ever since his previous opportunity slipped away last year. His extensive media appearances have significantly boosted his profile among mixed martial arts enthusiasts.

The Armenian fighter's active participation in wrestling, particularly his strong grappling prowess, has earned him considerable acclaim. Notably, even former Olympic wrestler Kurt Angle acknowledged Tsarukyan's potential to secure an Olympic medal.

When asked about pursuing an Olympic wrestling career, Tsarukyan offered a candid response, prioritizing his UFC championship aspirations. He explained, “If I was a UFC champion, I could think about that. But… but right now, no. There is no money… it’s just for the country. Yeah, you can bring the medal. Guys training 25 years only freestyle wrestling… it’s going to be difficult to compete with them.” He highlighted the financial disparity and the immense challenge of competing against athletes who have dedicated decades solely to freestyle wrestling.

Tsarukyan firmly believes he is the rightful next contender for the title and anticipates challenging the winner of the upcoming Ilia Topuria versus Justin Gaethje bout, possibly at UFC Freedom 250. He predicts that Topuria stands a better chance of defeating Gaethje, setting the stage for a championship showdown against Tsarukyan.