Arman Tsarukyan isn’t backing down from his pursuit of the UFC lightweight title, and he’s making it clear, he doesn’t need Ilia Topuria’s approval to get there.
After months of being sidelined by a back injury that forced him out of his title shot against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311, Tsarukyan is still gunning for gold. However, things have shifted fast in the 155-pound division.
Makhachev has moved up to welterweight. Topuria took advantage, flattening Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to claim the vacant lightweight belt. Now, Tsarukyan finds himself left out of the title picture, while names like Paddy Pimblett, Justin Gaethje, and even Max Holloway circle the champion.
Topuria made his stance known during a livestream with the Nelk Boys. He didn’t hold back.
“They are going to give him a fight before the title shot because there is no way, I’m the world champion, I’m never going to give him a chance to fight for the title,” Topuria said. “I will be like, listen, if that’s the case, take my belt. I don’t do it.”
“It’s not, ‘Ah, my back!’ Bro, I don’t f*cking care,” Topuria added. “When you put so much effort in the game, and you have a guy in front who you don’t know that maybe he could pull out from the fight, that’s not something good for us.”
Tsarukyan didn’t stay silent. He clapped back immediately, putting the pressure right back on the champion.
“Imagine calling yourself a champion, but you’re already looking for a way out. You can vacate it, or I’ll take it. Either way, it’s mine.”
With UFC CEO Dana White previously saying Tsarukyan needs to “fight his way back” after withdrawing from the Makhachev bout, the road ahead looks steep. Despite this, Tsarukyan has already proven he belongs in the upper echelon of the division.
He holds wins over Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Damir Ismagulov, Joel Alvarez, and Olivier Aubin-Mercier. In 11 UFC appearances, his only losses came in his debut against Makhachev and a Fight of the Night war with Mateusz Gamrot in 2022.
Still, Tsarukyan continues to fight for his shot at the top. The politics of the division may favor louder names, but he’s staying the course, building a resume that can’t be ignored.
