Arman Tsarukyan may be one of the top contenders in the UFC lightweight division, but it’s clear he still has work to do to regain the trust of the promotion’s leadership.
Despite attending UFC 326 and appearing briefly during the broadcast, Tsarukyan remains on shaky ground with Dana White. The UFC boss addressed the situation during the UFC 326 post-fight press conference, reacting to Tsarukyan’s recent altercation with Georgio Poullas at RAF.
“I don’t love it,” White said. “But that night, that was somebody else’s problem, not mine. That’s really all I’ve got to say about that. The division’s heating up and there are lots of fun fights to make. We’ll get Arman figured out.”
Even though the RAF incident grabbed headlines, Dana White made it clear that his concerns with Tsarukyan go far beyond that one moment.
“I’m not thrilled with Arman right now,” White explained. “And there are a lot of different reasons. It’s not just the stuff that you see publicly.”
The comments suggest that Tsarukyan’s issues with the UFC extend behind the scenes, which may explain why the rising lightweight contender has struggled to secure another title opportunity.
During the press conference, White also hinted that Tsarukyan played a major role in the chaotic scene that unfolded after his grappling match with Poullas.
“Listen, there are plenty of guys that wrestle and stay respectful with the opponents they face,” White said. “I understand there was some back-and-forth between those guys, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Arman’s been smoking a lot lately.”
The incident added to a growing list of controversies surrounding Tsarukyan over the past year.
Tsarukyan last competed inside the UFC octagon in November 2025, when he submitted Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC Fight Night Qatar.
However, the fight week itself drew criticism after Tsarukyan headbutted Hooker during the ceremonial weigh-ins, reportedly breaking the New Zealander’s nose before they even stepped inside the cage.
That moment only added to Tsarukyan’s growing reputation for taking things too far during fight promotions and competition.
Despite the controversy, Tsarukyan remains one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC’s stacked lightweight division. The 29-year-old contender is currently riding a five-fight winning streak and continues to hover near the top of the rankings.
Still, Dana White’s latest comments make it clear that Tsarukyan will likely need to repair his relationship with the promotion before he receives another shot at UFC gold.
For now, Tsarukyan’s future remains uncertain—but one thing is clear: the UFC is watching closely.
