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The UFC and Arman Tsarukyan continue a war that seems far from over. Despite being the number one lightweight contender and a top 15 pound-for-pound fighter, the Armenian will not be part of the interim title fight at UFC 324 on January 24. The company seems to have forgotten about him, in another sign that their relationship is not the best. However, in an interview with 'The Mac Life', the boss clarified that there is no problem with Tsarukyan.
However, the boss has done it his own way, making it clear that Arman is not his favorite fighter in the lightweight division. "There's no bad blood with Tsarukyan. You know what I didn't do? We didn't cut him, we don't dislike him," he said. In other words, the Armenian can be thankful to still be with the company.
We haven't cut it, we don't dislike it
It should not be forgotten that Tsarukyan has been involved in several scandals in the UFC. First, Arman assaulted a fan before a fight during his walkout to the octagon, which cost him a serious fine. Later, the straw that broke the camel's back occurred at UFC 311, when he pulled out of his title fight against Islam Makhachev 24 hours before the fight due to a back injury, leaving the UFC in the lurch.
This obviously angered Dana White and his team, and there is even speculation that Arman used this excuse because he was not going to make the weight. The truth is only known to them, and the UFC boss told him that he would have to earn his trust again. Everything seemed to be back on track after Tsarukyan's victory over Dan Hooker - submission - at the last UFC Qatar, but it does not seem to have been enough.
Against all odds, when Ilia Topuria announced that he would take a break in his career, the UFC announced for the first card of the year a fight for the interim belt, and Tsarukyan was not part of the equation. The fight will be between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje, two fighters who are more media-friendly than him, and the winner will face 'El Matador' to unify the belts.
Therefore, Tsarukyan will have to wait until at least the end of 2026 to get his title shot. In fact, he is unlikely to ever get to fight Topuria, as he himself believes that 'El Matador' will make one defense and move up to welterweight for the triple crown.
The most surprising thing is that Arman has not complained too much, as if he knows that he has not done things right and the position he is in. It remains to be seen whether he decides to wait or puts his number one contender spot on the line against another opponent in the first half of the year.