Arman Tsarukyan has a clear message for Justin Gaethje: he’s next in line.
At UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Saturday, Tsarukyan delivered what many consider the most significant victory of his career by knocking out Mauricio Ruffy in the co-main event. The bout was widely seen as a title eliminator, with reigning lightweight champion Justin Gaethje watching from cageside. After the fight, Tsarukyan didn’t hesitate to tell the media that Gaethje is aware of who he wants to face next.
“He already knows—he’s fighting me next,” Tsarukyan said.
Currently on a six-fight winning streak at lightweight, Tsarukyan was originally slated to challenge Islam Makhachev for the title last year. However, a last-minute withdrawal from that event and other complications caused friction with the UFC, leaving Tsarukyan under extra pressure to perform this time around. He insists he met those expectations spectacularly.
“Every fight carries pressure for me—it’s not something I take lightly because I want to be UFC champion,” Tsarukyan explained. “This fight was especially important. I needed a finish and had to put on a great show. When I speak to the UFC officials, they can’t say it was a boring decision trying to justify not giving me a title shot. I knocked him out in the first round, and they witnessed my skill and the crowd’s reaction.”
He went on to say, “I’ve waited a long time for this. I need that title fight, and today I proved I deserve it again. This was my third fight as the No. 1 contender over the last three years. After this, I’m hopeful the title fight is next.”
While Tsarukyan believes his conversation with UFC president Dana White confirmed his title shot is imminent, who he will face remains uncertain. Tsarukyan suspects Gaethje may be avoiding him.
“Justin Gaethje never mentions my name,” Tsarukyan claimed. “He’s scared. He wanted Ruffy to knock me out, which tells me he’s trying to dodge me. He might push to fight Ilia Topuria instead or demand a massive payday like $15 million to face me, or threaten retirement. He’s playing games.”
However, Tsarukyan remains optimistic that the UFC will either make him fight Gaethje or grant the title shot to one of the other up-and-coming contenders.
“If Gaethje retires instead of fighting me, I’m not upset—I just want my chance at the belt,” Tsarukyan said. “I’m flexible and ready whenever the UFC calls.”
When asked about his readiness for a title fight, Tsarukyan responded, “I’m injury-free and only need a week off. After that, I can start training again. I’d be ready to fight anytime—whether mid-December or at any big event around then. I can’t say I want to wait two or three months. If they want me, I’ll be there.”
Fan Take: This development is a must-watch for fight fans eager to see fresh matchups in the lightweight division. Tsarukyan’s rise and his insistence on a title shot could shake up the status quo and introduce a thrilling new challenger to the UFC’s top lightweight fighters, potentially escalating the division’s excitement and competitiveness.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
