Arman Tsarukyan is widely recognized as one of the top talents in mixed martial arts, with some of the sport’s all-time greats supporting him as the potential challenger to dethrone Ilya Topuria. Although he has yet to compete for the UFC lightweight championship, many consider Tsarukyan among the best fighters at 155 pounds globally.
Following his withdrawal from a title fight against Islam Makhachev in January last year, Tsarukyan has faced challenges within the promotion. While he isn’t currently the next contender for reigning lightweight champ Ilya Topuria, Demetrius Johnson—a legend in the sport—believes Tsarukyan is the only fighter capable of overthrowing “El Matador.”
Demetrius Johnson Believes Tsarukyan’s Athleticism Surpasses Topuria’s
Topuria is set to defend his title in June against interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC White House. Despite Gaethje being considered the underdog, Johnson recently shared why he thinks Tsarukyan, after training with him, has what it takes to defeat Topuria.
“Having trained with Arman, I believe he possesses the athleticism, skills, and mindset to overcome Ilya Topuria,” Johnson stated in a recent YouTube video. He also expressed that Tsarukyan deserved one of the upcoming interim title fights, whether against Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett. “Arman should battle the winner of Justin Gaethje versus Ilya Topuria… At lightweight, he has the best shot at beating Topuria.”
In addition to his versatile fighting abilities, Tsarukyan, age 29, holds a considerable size advantage over Topuria as a natural lightweight. Despite previously struggling with moving up in weight, he recently announced he’s open to dropping down to featherweight to challenge Alexander Volkanovski, targeting both the featherweight and lightweight titles in the future.
Photo credit: Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto, Getty Images
Tsarukyan’s Next Fight is Scheduled for February 28th
Still somewhat under the radar in the UFC, Tsarukyan has kept active by competing outside the organization. Since his victory over Dan Hooker last November, he has participated in three events spanning wrestling and grappling formats.
He is set to return to the wrestling mat on February 28th, where he will face Giorgio Poulas at RAF Round 6.
Fan Take: This news is exciting for fight fans because Tsarukyan’s rise signals a fresh and highly skilled contender who could shake up the lightweight division’s status quo. His willingness to compete across different weight classes and disciplines also hints at a dynamic future, potentially creating new rivalries and unforgettable matchups.
