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Tag: Arman Tsarukyan

  • Arman Tsarukyan continues to accuse Ilia Topuria of ducking him

    Arman Tsarukyan continues to accuse Ilia Topuria of ducking him

    Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan firmly believes that Ilia Topuria, the current UFC lightweight champion, is actively avoiding him.

    As we know, Arman Tsarukyan is one of the best lightweight fighters that the Ultimate Fighting Championship has on its roster. At the same time, he hasn’t fought for a while now – with one of the reasons for that being the injury he sustained right before he was scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the belt.

    There have been plenty of developments since then, but one thing that hasn’t changed is Arman Tsarukyan’s position as one of the frontrunners in the race for a championship opportunity.

    Unfortunately, Ilia Topuria doesn’t seem to be too invested in the idea of making that happen. In a recent interview, Arman Tsarukyan opened up on the situation and what could be next for him.

    Arman Tsarukyan continues ducking accusations

    “He feels that he’s going to lose that fight, and it’s better to give the belt and then like go up or wait to see what happens with me because he knows I’m a big problem for him,” Tsarukyan told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a media day scrum. “I’m going to get his title, he knows that, and he wants an easy fight with Paddy (Pimblett) or (Justin) Gaethje or someone, just make money and defend, but with me, it’s going to be hard for him.”

    “I already told them I’m ready September or October,” Tsarukyan said. “I’m in shape and I train twice a day. I’m healthy now, so if they tell me October with somebody and December with Ilia, for sure.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Arman Tsarukyan Highlights Surprising Detail From Khamzat Chimaev’s Training Ahead Of UFC 319

    Arman Tsarukyan Highlights Surprising Detail From Khamzat Chimaev’s Training Ahead Of UFC 319

    Arman Tsarukyan has revealed the intensity of Khamzat Chimaev’s demanding training routine.

    Chimaev is slated to headline UFC 319 on August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, where he will challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis for the title.

    “Borz” has faced a string of cancellations and setbacks, with medical issues and unforeseen hurdles severely limiting his activity. As a result, he has competed just five times in the Octagon since September 2020. He has previously opened up about his inactivity, attributing it to pushing himself too hard in training.

    According to the undefeated Russian, extreme overtraining left his body drained, ultimately compromising his immune system and making him more susceptible to illness. Having been part of Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 training camp, Tsarukyan understands the toll such intensity can take.

    Image: @arm_011/Instagram

    Arman Tsarukyan Shares Khamzat Chimaev Hired Coach To Prevent Overtraining

    During a recent interview with Kamil Gadzhiev, Arman Tsarukyan weighed in on Khamzat Chimaev’s intense training habits. According to the UFC lightweight contender, “Borz” often entered fight night far from his peak, having drained himself through relentless overtraining.

    To address the issue, Chimaev’s team has now brought in a dedicated coach tasked with managing his workload and closely monitoring his recovery to ensure he performs at his best when it matters most.

    “Khamzat’s never at 100% on fight night because he constantly overtrains,” Tsarukyan said. “After sparring, he always goes to work the bag, lift weights, etc. He’s one of those guys you have to tell when it’s time to stop. He’s now being tested daily to monitor his recovery. They have devices that show his recovery status every day, and if he’s in a slump, they help pull him out of it. They give him more time to relax, because when you’re overtrained, you can’t work properly in sparring. We need a guy who will control this 24/7 and stop him at the right moment so he won’t overtrain.”

    “Borz” was last seen in action at UFC 308 in October 2024, where he delivered a dominant first-round submission win over former champion Robert Whittaker. Khamzat Chimaev holds a flawless 8-0 record inside the UFC and stands at 14-0 overall, with an impressive 12 of those victories coming via stoppage.

    Khamzat Chimaev
    Image: @khamzat_chimaev/Instagram
  • Ilia Topuria Has Played You – He Will Face Arman Tsarukyan, According to UFC Insider

    Ilia Topuria Has Played You – He Will Face Arman Tsarukyan, According to UFC Insider

    Ilia Topuria is playing everyone like a fiddle.

    ‘El Matador’ etched his name in the history books at UFC 317, scoring a sensational first-round finish against Charles Oliveira to claim the lightweight world title, officially becoming a two-division champion.

    Thus far, Topuria has not yet booked his first official defense of the 155-pound crown, but there’s really only one challenger that makes sense — Arman Tsarukyan.

    9-2 under the UFC banner and sitting on a four-fight win streak, Tsarukyan has more than earned his spot as the division’s top-ranked contender. But despite his No. 1 ranking, Topuria has been nothing but dismissive of a potential clash between the two. That has prompted some to label Topuria a coward, but according to Chael Sonnen, it’s nothing more than a clever bit of gamesmanship from the 155-pound king.

    “Ilia is playing you; he’s going to fight Tsarukyan next,” Sonnen said on his Youtube channel. “Do we need more detail, or can we call it here?

    “Ilia said, ‘I have no interest in fighting Tsarukyan.’ Now, the reason that it’s peculiar to me is because fellow 155-pounders are upset, but they’re not saying they want to fight him—they’re just calling him a coward. This fight is done just so you understand. But guys do have a recipe. They’re creatures of habit.”

    Sonnen recalls Anderson Silva using the same tactic as Ilia Topuria

    Sonnen likened the situation to his iconic feud with Anderson Silva, recalling when ‘The Spider’ would regularly disregard him as the next man up as a way to build hype for their inevitable clash.

    “When I was having issues with Anderson Silva, it would keep me up at night,” Sonnen said. “Anderson was famous, successful, rich, and he didn’t need anybody. I needed him to choose me. I worked hard to get him to choose me. Anderson’s move was to deny the fight as the first step in accepting the fight every single time. He would let the press conference happen, say nothing, and then after the number one contender’s match, he’d deny the fight.

    “Let the media run with that. He could get about two weeks of build-up from just denying the fight. Then Anderson would accept the fight, let excitement die down, and then report that he was injured so the fight was off without confirming or denying.

    “Ilia does the same thing. He has his own way to build fights. He’s a very big star.”

  • Arman Tsarukyan calls for huge UFC lightweight title eliminator

    Arman Tsarukyan calls for huge UFC lightweight title eliminator

    UFC lightweight star Arman Tsarukyan has called for a blockbuster UFC lightweight title eliminator with Justin Gaethje.

    For the longest time now, Arman Tsarukyan has been calling for a UFC lightweight championship opportunity – and the same is true for Justin Gaethje. Arman came close, only for an injury to rule him out of fighting Islam Makhachev at the last minute. Now, though, it’s not quite clear what direction the UFC will go in.

    Both men are qualified enough to receive a shot at the gold, but for Arman Tsarukyan, it certainly doesn’t seem as if current champion Ilia Topuria is interested. In fact, it seems like the opposite.

    In a recent interview, Arman Tsarukyan made it known that he doesn’t want to wait for the opportunity to fight for the belt at this point.

    Arman Tsarukyan calls for collision with Justin Gaethje

    “Of course I want Islam [Makhachev], but right now, it makes sense to fight with Gaethje, because he just beat the No. 11 or so [Rafael] Fiziev,” Tsarukyan told Chuck Liddell on his Out Cold show. “He doesn’t deserve title fight. That’s 100 percent, because he just lost [to Max] Holloway. Beat, on short notice, Fiziev. Fiziev knew about the fight five days, and he won, barely, a decision. Now he’s talking about title fight. It’s not fair. I think he’s got to beat me to deserve to fight for the title.”

    “They offered me a fight. I said no because I want to fight ranked fighter from top 5,” Tsarukyan said. “I’m in the position, I’m not fighting for the money right now. I just want to be a champion. Now my goal is to be a champion, that’s why I’m not taking a fight I will just beat [someone]. I know I can beat everybody. Right now, I want to pick a good fight for me and get back to the title fight.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • MMA Legend Backs Arman Tsarukyan As ‘Rightful’ Next Challenger For Ilia Topuria

    MMA Legend Backs Arman Tsarukyan As ‘Rightful’ Next Challenger For Ilia Topuria

    Arman Tsarukyan, not Paddy Pimblett, deserves the next shot at Ilia Topuria — or so says one MMA legend urging the UFC to honor the rankings.

    Following Islam Makhachev’s decision to vacate the lightweight title and move up to welterweight, Topuria claimed the vacant throne with a brutal knockout of former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.

    Following his emphatic victory, “El Matador” shared a fiery face-off with Pimblett inside the Octagon. Since then, “The Baddy” has seemingly jumped ahead of leading contenders like Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje in the race to challenge Topuria for his first title defense, largely because it’s the matchup many fans want to see next, even though the UFC has yet to make anything official.

    However, former UFC and ONE champion Demetrious Johnson isn’t sold on that matchup. Instead, the MMA legend throws his weight behind “Ahalkalakets” and believes Tsarukyan should be the one fighting for the 155-pound title next.

    Demetrious Johnson Says Arman Tsarukyan More Worthy Of Title Shot Over Paddy Pimblett

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Demetrious Johnson weighed in on the evolving UFC lightweight title picture following Ilia Topuria’s championship win. While he acknowledged that a showdown between Topuria and Paddy Pimblett might generate more revenue and fan interest, “Mighty Mouse” emphasized that the UFC should stick to merit-based matchmaking.

    Johnson argued that Arman Tsarukyan, who holds a significantly higher ranking than “The Baddy”, is the deserving challenger for the next title shot.

    “It needs to be him, Arman Tsarukyan,” Johnson said. “This is why I say [UFC] it’s a reality TV show. It’s like, obviously Arman Tsarukyan is the number one contender. He’s ranked number one… Whatever you guys wanna go by the rankings, but they’re force in this fight with Paddy Pimblett versus Ilia Topuria just because it’s probably gonna sell more. But I think the rightful person who should be getting the next title shot at lightweight is Arman Tsarukyan.”

    “Ahalkalakets” last competed at UFC 300 in April 2024, where he earned a hard-fought split decision victory over Charles Oliveira. The win secured Tsarukyan a title shot against then-lightweight king Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January. However, the 28-year-old Armenian was forced to withdraw just hours before the weigh-ins due to an undisclosed health scare.

    Tsarukyan served as the backup fighter for UFC 317, successfully making weight in case he was needed. Since then, he’s publicly called out Topuria for a title opportunity. However, despite his readiness, UFC CEO Dana White has yet to confirm him as the next challenger.

    Image: @arm_011/Instagram

  • Arman Tsarukyan Defeats Team Khabib Fighter, Eyes Islam Makhachev Next

    Arman Tsarukyan Defeats Team Khabib Fighter, Eyes Islam Makhachev Next

    Arman Tsarukyan recently returned to competition after a year-long absence—but not inside the UFC Octagon.

    On Friday night, Tsarukyan stepped into the grappling pit for a 175-pound showdown with Dagestani wrestler Makasharip Zaynukov at Karate Combat 54 in Dubai. “Ahalkalakets” opened aggressively with a single-leg attempt in the corner, but Zaynukov defended well.

    The rest of the bout featured limited grappling success from both fighters, with neither securing a clear takedown across two closely contested five-minute rounds. However, the UFC lightweight contender’s activity and control earned him a unanimous decision from all three judges, making a third round unnecessary.

    In his post-fight interview, Tsarukyan reflected on his performance and explained his motivation for entering the grappling match.

    “It feels great,” Arman Tsarukyan said. “I haven’t fought in one year, so that’s why I came and wrestled today. My opponent is a very tough guy. No one knows him a lot because he fights in Russia, but he’s from a very strong team. He didn’t want to wrestle too much. I like offense, and he was trying to escape from me for 10 minutes.”

    Tsarukyan’s last UFC appearance came at UFC 300 in April 2024, where he secured a hard-fought split decision victory over former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in a title eliminator. “Ahalkalakets” was then slated to challenge reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January, but was forced to withdraw just hours before weigh-ins due to health issues.

    The 28-year-old Armenian has expressed his desire to reschedule a rematch with Makhachev as his next fight.

    “Can’t wait for next one. I need one more guy from Khabib’s team [Makhachev]. Let’s do this again.”

    Tsarukyan first faced Makhachev at a UFC Fight Night event in April 2019, where he delivered a gritty performance in his Octagon debut. Despite his resilience, he was ultimately outclassed and lost to the Dagestani by unanimous decision.

    Currently riding a four-fight win streak, Tsarukyan holds a 9-2 record in the UFC, with four of those victories coming by knockout.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Sends Paddy Pimblett A Dare Ahead Of Crucial Michael Chandler Clash At UFC 314

    UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan didn’t take too kindly to some comments out of Paddy Pimblett.

    As he gears up for a crucial showdown with Michael Chandler in the co-main event of this weekend’s UFC 314 pay-per-view, Pimblett recently had a different top-10 contender at 155 pounds on his mind.

    “The Baddy” took aim at Tsarukyan during an appearance on the Full Send podcast, and it didn’t take long for the Russian-Armenian to take notice.

    Tsarukyan responded on X, criticizing the Liverpudlian for a supposed ‘easy’ path up the ladder on MMA’s biggest stage. He also ‘dared’ Pimblett to call him out if he emerges victorious this Saturday night in Miami.

    “Says the guy who got the easiest path to the top in ufc just because he’s got a funny accent and budget beatles haircut,” Tsarukyan wrote. “I dare you to call me out if you win and we will see who will shit his pants in the octagon when we meet clown @PaddyTheBaddy“

    Tsarukyan has faced slack from more than one of his peers this year. Dan Hooker also jibed at the top contender for his last-second withdrawal from a title shot against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 this past January.

  • Michael Chandler Snubs Tsarukyan, Topuria While Naming Contenders Most Deserving Of A Title Shot

    Michael Chandler Snubs Tsarukyan, Topuria While Naming Contenders Most Deserving Of A Title Shot

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler is backing two of his former opponents as the leading candidates for the next title shot at 155 pounds.

    The championship picture is somewhat unclear in the lightweight division after what unfolded at UFC 311. While Arman Tsarukyan entered the year at the front of the queue, a last-minute withdrawal cost him the opportunity. With that, it appears that the Russian-Armenian will need to once again defeat a fellow contender to re-earn the shot.

    Meanwhile, a few of his targets — namely Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje — have attempted to stake their claim for a shot at Islam Makhachev this summer.

    And that’s without even mentioning the arrival of Ilia Topuria, who is hoping for an immediate chance at achieving two-division glory after leaving behind his reign as featherweight kingpin.

    During a recent Q&A session on X, Michael Chandler was asked to give his take on the situation.

    The former Bellator champ omitted both Tsarukyan and Topuria from his answer when choosing the ‘most deserving’ of the next title shot, instead naming two stars who share three wins over “Iron” inside the Octagon.

    “So hard to say… gaethje or oliveira,” Michael Chandler wrote.

    After mounting a comeback to stop Chandler in their 2022 title fight, Oliveira once again got the better of the American in their rematch inside Madison Square Garden last November. In-between those results, Chandler fell short in a memorable Fight of the Year war with Gaethje.

    Despite being 2-4 in the UFC and coming off a second setback to “Do Bronx,” Chandler is also hoping to insert his name into the title debate soon enough.

    With a knockout victory over Paddy Pimblett next month at UFC 314, Chandler is looking to make himself available for a quick turnaround for a clash with Makhachev at International Fight Week in June.

  • Paddy Pimblett: Arman Tsarukyan ‘Deserves’ Lightweight Title Shot Over Ilia Topuria

    Paddy Pimblett: Arman Tsarukyan ‘Deserves’ Lightweight Title Shot Over Ilia Topuria

    UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett doesn’t like the idea of Ilia Topuria being granted an immediate title shot at 155 pounds.

    Topuria has set his sights on achieving two-division glory after choosing to vacate the featherweight gold this year following just one defense. “El Matador” went 2-0 in 2024, dethroning Alexander Volkanovski before becoming the first to knock out Max Holloway.

    Due to an apparent struggle to make the 145-pound weight limit, the Spaniard will move forward as a permanent figure in the lightweight division. And given his success below, Topuria has seemingly been expecting a showdown with Islam Makhachev straight away.

    During a recent interview with Jon Anik for ESPN MMA, Paddy Pimblett rejected that as a logical next fight for the champion. “The Baddy,” who has long had a rivalry with Topuria, insisted that current top contender Arman Tsarukyan is far more deserving of the opportunity.

    “I felt a bit bad for him (Tsarukyan) when Dana said, ‘No, he’s not next. He’s going to have to go back to the drawing board.’ I was like, wow, shots fired,” Pimblett said. “I think personally, Arman still deserves the next title shot. Islam’s already beat Charles (Oliveira), beat (Dustin) Poirier.

    “I think the only person right for him to fight is Arman,” Pimblett continued. “Arman deserves that title shot more than ‘Hand Sanitizer Boy’ (Topuria) does.”

    Tsarukyan entered the year with a title shot in the bank, but a last-second withdrawal from UFC 311 left the promotion bumping him down the pecking order.

    While the Russian-Armenian looks ahead to his chance to restore top contender status, Paddy Pimblett will soon have the chance to climb the ranks opposite former title challenger Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in Miami next month.

  • Tsarukyan Hits Back At Justin Gaethje’s Title Plea: ‘You Barely Got Past #11 On Short Notice’

    Tsarukyan Hits Back At Justin Gaethje’s Title Plea: ‘You Barely Got Past #11 On Short Notice’

    UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan evidently wasn’t impressed by Justin Gaethje’s performance this past weekend — and decision to call for a title shot off the back of it.

    Gaethje bounced back from his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway in his return to action Saturday night. “The Highlight” co-headlined the UFC 313 pay-per-view in a rematch against Rafael Fiziev.

    While “Ataman” performed valiantly on short notice, he once again fell short to Gaethje on the scorecards, having suffered the same fate in London back in 2023.

    As the Azerbaijani contemplates a move down to the featherweight division, the American fan favorite was quick to stake his claim for a third crack at achieving undisputed lightweight glory on MMA’s biggest stage. But Tsarukyan, the top contender at 155 pounds, firmly disagrees with “The Highlight’s” recent demand to UFC CEO Dana White.

    In a social media post Wednesday, the Russian-Armenian categorically dismissed any suggestion that Justin Gaethje deserves the next shot at Islam Makhachev’s gold.

    “You barely got past #11 on short notice, and before that, you got sent to the shadow realm,” Tsarukyan wrote on X. “If you really want to be the #1 contender and fight for the belt, you have to go through me first.”

    Unfortunately for Tsarukyan, it would appear that Gaethje might have the support of UFC higher-ups when it comes to his ongoing title ambitions, with White stating backstage at UFC 313 that there’s a “good chance” the American receives another title shot.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Breaks Down ’50-50′ Makhachev vs. Topuria Fight

    Arman Tsarukyan Breaks Down ’50-50′ Makhachev vs. Topuria Fight

    The lightweight division is buzzing with excitement as Islam Makhachev holds the championship, with several contenders eager for a title shot. Amid this competitive landscape, Arman Tsarukyan has shared his thoughts on a potential showdown between Makhachev and former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.

    Tsarukyan, who was originally slated to challenge Makhachev at UFC 311 before a back injury forced him out, brings a unique perspective to the discussion. Weighing in on the potential matchup, he sees it as a close contest, acknowledging Topuria’s striking prowess while questioning his ability to withstand Makhachev’s relentless grappling.

    “It’s a tough fight,” Arman Tsarukyan told The Schmo. “Ilia, he is a better striker; good boxing. I don’t know—like, he’s never fought with guys who can wrestle very well like Islam, so we will see. It is a 50-50 fight.”

    The intrigue of this matchup lies in the stylistic clash between Topuria’s striking power and Makhachev’s elite grappling. While Topuria’s boxing has been a dominant weapon, Makhachev’s wrestling follows the well-established blueprint of Khabib Nurmagomedov. Having faced Makhachev himself, Tsarukyan offers valuable insight into the champion’s approach, making his analysis all the more compelling.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Sends Justin Gaethje Reality Check About UFC Title Hopes

    Arman Tsarukyan Sends Justin Gaethje Reality Check About UFC Title Hopes

    When it comes to Justin Gaethje’s hopes to secure a third crack at the undisputed UFC lightweight title, Arman Tsarukyan has told him to hold his horses.

    Gaethje placed his name back into the championship conversation at 155 pounds this past weekend by emerging victorious from the UFC 313 co-main event.

    “The Highlight” ran it back with Rafael Fiziev at the pay-per-view after original opponent Dan Hooker withdrew due to a broken hand. And for the second time in under three years, the American exited the cage a decision winner over “Ataman.”

    In the aftermath, Gaethje outlined his hopes to challenge Islam Makhachev down the line. That ambition received a sizable boost during Dana White’s post-fight press conference, with the UFC CEO suggesting the ex-interim champ has a “good chance” of another title shot.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, however, Tsarukyan insisted that “The Highlight” must go through either him or former titleholder Charles Oliveira first.

    “It’s Gaethje or Oliveira,” Arman Tsarukyan said of his next opponent. “Gaethje wants to fight for the title. It makes sense to fight with me, because nobody’s going to give him (the) title fight. It’s not going to be fair that he’s going to get (the) title fight. So he’s got to beat me or Oliveira to get a title fight. There is Ilia (Topuria) too. … I’m open to everybody from (the) top five.”

    Tsarukyan has been left needing to record another victory over a top contender despite entering the year with a first title shot bagged.

    A late pullout from January’s UFC 311 event saw him lose out on the opportunity, leaving the next step for Makhachev uncertain after he dispatched of late-notice replacement Renato Moicano in Los Angeles.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Mocks Dan Hooker After UFC 313 Withdrawal: ‘Karma Doesn’t Miss’

    Arman Tsarukyan Mocks Dan Hooker After UFC 313 Withdrawal: ‘Karma Doesn’t Miss’

    UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker isn’t getting any sympathy from one longtime rivalry following his latest injury setback.

    Disaster struck this week when news emerged of Hooker’s withdrawal from next month’s UFC 313 pay-per-view. He was set to co-headline opposite Justin Gaethje in a sure-fire banger.

    Unfortunately, the New Zealander suffered a broken hand in training, forcing him out of the numbered event on March 8 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    The feeling across the MMA community has been one of despair given how highly anticipated the clash was. But one notable name hasn’t let an opportunity to turn the tables on Hooker slip past.

    Arman Tsarukyan similarly had a canceled bout earlier this year, pulling out of his scheduled title challenge against Islam Makhachev just one day out after sustaining a back injury during his weight cut.

    Hooker was quick to criticize the Russian-Armenian, with whom he’s long gone back and forth with. “The Hangman” questioned how such an injury was possible and took a jab at the reported wealth of Tsarukyan’s family.

    The #1-ranked contender evidently believes that turnabout is fair play…

    “Karma doesn’t miss,” Tsarukyan wrote on X. “Big mouth, glass hands – maybe just stick to talking instead of fighting, @danthehangman“

    It remains to be seen what lies ahead for “Akhalkalakets” after he lost his place at the front of the line following his late withdrawal from UFC 311.

    Hooker will now find himself in a similar situation, with the UFC looking to find Gaethje a new opponent for UFC 313 rather than push the original matchup back to a later date.

  • UFC Legend Suggests Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 311 Withdrawal More To Do With ‘Insane’ Weight Cut Than Back Injury

    Arman Tsarukyan was initially scheduled to headline UFC 311 in a lightweight title fight against reigning champion Islam Makhachev. However, the Armenian withdrew from the bout due to a back injury, costing him a highly anticipated title opportunity.

    Renato Moicano stepped in as a late replacement but was defeated by Makhachev via first-round submission.

    The circumstances surrounding Tsarukyan’s withdrawal have drawn attention, especially after a video surfaced on social media showing him performing a series of neck-spinning movements during a training session. The clip, shared in a Nina Drama video, has sparked speculation about its connection to his injury.

    Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett weighed in on the situation, suggesting that extreme weight-cutting may have been the root cause of Tsarukyan’s injury. On The Ariel Helwani Show, Barnett theorized that the rigorous weight cut likely triggered a severe back spasm, ultimately forcing Tsarukyan to pull out.

    “You don’t get Arman Tsarukyan having back problems if you don’t have insane weight cutting,” Barnett explained. “I truly believe that in doing his weight cut, he probably hit a huge back spasm out of nowhere that completely took him by surprise. It was bad enough that it impacted his ability to cut weight, so how’s he gonna make the weight class? And it could be severe enough that he wouldn’t feel up to competing the next day.”

    Barnett also criticized the culture of extreme weight-cutting in MMA, arguing that it creates unnecessary risks for fighters.

    “This all comes from fighting under a ruleset that encourages you to game the system because everyone is doing it and there’s no way around it really,” he added.

    While Tsarukyan has not directly addressed the weight-cut speculation, the incident has reignited discussions about the dangers of drastic weight reductions in combat sports.

  • Charles Oliveira Has Different Next UFC Fight In Mind Despite Arman Tsarukyan Callout

    Charles Oliveira Has Different Next UFC Fight In Mind Despite Arman Tsarukyan Callout

    Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is after redemption next time out, but not necessarily opposite Arman Tsarukyan.

    Oliveira was in Los Angeles last week, expecting to see his likely next opponent decided in a planned title clash between champ Islam Makhachev and challenger Tsarukyan at UFC 311.

    But after the Armenian withdrew 24 hours out from the pay-per-view event through injury, Oliveira’s countryman Renato Moicano stepped in and was quickly submitted inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.

    With that turn of events, it’s unclear what lies ahead for Makhachev following his fourth successful defense, especially after UFC CEO Dana White stated in no uncertain terms that Tsarukyan must re-earn the title opportunity he initially secured with a win over Oliveira last April.

    The man ousted from the number one contender spot seemingly plans to repeat the feat, pitching a five-round rematch with “Do Bronx” following this past weekend’s disappointment.

    But should the wait for a potential second clash with Makhachev be too long for his liking, a sophomore dance with Tsarukyan apparently won’t be the direction Oliveira looks in.

    During a recent interview with the UFC, the Brazilian pointed to a different former adversary whom he’d like to run it back with.

    “I prefer to leave it to my managers and focus only on training and being with my family, but we’ll have to see when he (Makhachev) will want to come back now,” Oliveira said. “If he only wants to fight in October, I definitely want to fight before that, so why not challenge Max Holloway for the BMF belt?

    “I think Max himself talked about it (a possible rematch). We met before, but I suffered an injury right in the beginning, so there wasn’t an actual fight,” Oliveira continued. “I think we deserve to make this fight happen. He’s moved up, he’s the BMF, the toughest one. I’m very tough myself, I hold a lot of UFC records, so that would be huge.”

    When the pair first fought back in 2015, a sudden oesophagus injury sustained by Oliveira handed Holloway the win by TKO.

    Talk of a rematch between the pair arose last November in the aftermath of “Do Bronx’s” win over Michael Chandler, with “Blessed” welcoming the chance to defend his symbolic BMF belt for the first time opposite the Brazilian fan favorite.

  • Daniel Cormier: Dana White Is Wrong, Arman Tsarukyan Should Get Next Title Shot Despite UFC 311 Pullout

    Daniel Cormier: Dana White Is Wrong, Arman Tsarukyan Should Get Next Title Shot Despite UFC 311 Pullout

    Arman Tsarukyan was originally set to headline UFC 311 in a lightweight title fight against reigning champion Islam Makhachev. However, an injury forced the Armenian to withdraw, costing him a chance to compete for the championship.

    Renato Moicano stepped in as a last-minute replacement, but the Brazilian was defeated via first-round submission.

    Following the event, UFC CEO Dana White stated that Tsarukyan would now have to work his way back up for another title shot. Tsarukyan himself appeared to agree, as he expressed on social media.

    However, not everyone agrees with this assessment.

    In his post-fight reaction, UFC commentator Daniel Cormier argued that Tsarukyan still deserves to be next in line for a shot at the title.

    “I believe it still needs to be Tsarukyan,” Cormier said. “Because I believe Tsarukyan, even though it’s a rematch and even though we know Charles [Oliveira] is supposed to be next, I still feel like Tsarukyan’s size, his abilities, his skill set, could present the biggest problems for Islam Makhachev.”

    Cormier also highlighted Makhachev’s dominance over the lightweight division.

    “Look at what he does to the rest [of the contenders],” Cormier said. “He has submitted or finished so many of the best lightweights in the world. Think about this — he finished Oliveira to become the champ. He finished [Alexander] Volkanovski in the rematch. He finished Dustin Poirier in his last title defense and now he finished Renato Moicano.”

    Cormier continued to praise Makhachev for accepting a short-notice fight against a surging contender.

    “Once again, Islam Makhachev proves to be the best lightweight in the world, submitting Renato Moicano in the very first round with a D’arce choke. I run out of ways to describe who Islam Makhachev is. This guy is a champion in every sense of the word. Not many guys would have accepted a fight for their belt on 24 hours’ notice against a guy that was on a four-fight win streak that you did not train for. He’s the best and he’s proving that time and time again.”

    As Tsarukyan works to regain his spot in the title conversation, the debate over who should challenge Makhachev next continues to intensify.

  • Arman Tsarukyan ‘Couldn’t Move’ After Suffering Back Injury During UFC 311 Weight Cut

    Arman Tsarukyan ‘Couldn’t Move’ After Suffering Back Injury During UFC 311 Weight Cut

    UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has described the moment his ambitions of a title crowning in Los Angeles this past weekend came to a crashing halt.

    Tsarukyan completed his media obligations and took to the stage for a press conference appearance last week ahead of the UFC 311 pay-per-view on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Armenian, however, he didn’t make it to fight night.

    It was announced Friday that Renato Moicano was stepping in on 24 hours’ notice to challenge Islam Makhachev after Tsarukyan suffered a back injury during his weight cut.

    Many were quick to question how the original challenger had gotten hurt while using a stationary bike to cut the pounds. And during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Tsarukyan revealed that he had actually felt some discomfort the night before.

    “Everything was good, but on the last day, Wednesday after training, I went to sleep and I started to feel my lower back. And I couldn’t sleep all night,” Tsarukyan said. “The next day, I thought it’s going to be good and after press conference I’m going to start my weight cut. And when I started my weight cut. I was (using the) bike and like, that moment my back was stuck and I couldn’t move.”

    That physical issue not only prevented him from running it back with Makhachev inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome on Jan. 18 but also seems to have forced him to relinquish number one contender status.

    After UFC CEO Dana White announced as much during the post-fight press conference, Tsarukyan himself publicly supported the decision and outlined his intentions to re-earn a title shot later this year.

  • Dan Hooker Doesn’t Hold Back In Assessment Of Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 311 Pullout: ‘Daddy Can’t Buy You A Backbone’

    Dan Hooker Doesn’t Hold Back In Assessment Of Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 311 Pullout: ‘Daddy Can’t Buy You A Backbone’

    Dan Hooker is tearing into Arman Tsarukyan for pulling out of the most significant fight of his career to date.

    Tsarukyan was set to face reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the headliner of UFC 311 last Saturday at the Intuit Dome in California. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated rematch faced a devastating setback when “Ahalkalakets” withdrew just hours before the official weigh-ins due to a back injury.

    Makhachev dominated Renato Moicano, who stepped in as Tsarukyan’s late replacement, securing a first-round submission to notch his fourth consecutive title defense in dominant fashion.

    As if the injury wasn’t enough for the 28-year-old Armenian, things took an unexpected turn at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Tsarukyan won’t be given an immediate title shot. Instead, he’ll need to secure one or two more victories before earning being considered for another crack at the belt.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker weighed in on Tsarukyan’s withdrawal from his first UFC title shot, expressing shock over the timing of the injury that led to the unexpected setback.

    “How do you get injured on your day off?” Hooker said. “I got no idea… I thought it was pretty, pretty strange, bro, to get such a severe injury that you need to pull out when you’re cutting weight, you know?”

    “The Hangman” didn’t hold back, taking sharp jabs at Tsarukyan for missing out on an immediate title shot, while mocking his apparently privileged background and his father Nairi Tsarukyan’s wealth.

    “It must be a pretty severe injury. But, like, your world title is your absolutely everything. I don’t know how you would pass up on that opportunity. Yeah, like, I obviously saw Dana White just say that he ain’t getting the title shot next and he’s going to have to work his way back up to the belt, you know. Daddy can’t buy you a backbone, can he?”

    Hooker is placing himself in the mix for a lightweight title shot as he’s set to clash with former interim champion Justin Gaethje in a five-round battle. The high-stakes bout will take place as the co-main event of UFC 311 on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

    Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

    It would seem that Arman Tsarukyan is no longer the number one contender at 155 pounds.

    Tsarukyan was gearing up last week for his first shot at championship glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. Instead of that, however, he watched on as Islam Makhachev shared the cage with Renato Moicano at UFC 311.

    That came about after the Armenian withdrew on weigh-in day after sustaining a back injury. Moicano was subsequently pulled from his main card clash with Beneil Dariush and handed a sudden title opportunity, which he was unable to capitalize on.

    After quickly submitting the Brazilian by way of a D’Arce choke, Makhachev’s reign has reached a record-breaking four successful defenses. And when it comes to his attempt at a fifth, there’s some uncertainty over opposition.

    During his press conference inside the Intuit Dome, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Tsarukyan would not be keeping his title shot following his injury dropout.

    Interestingly, that decision has been supported by the man himself.

    “I agree with @danawhite. Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true #1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me!” Tsarukyan wrote on X.

    Tsarukyan also identified a potential opponent, green-lighting a rematch with Charles Oliveira in a subsequent post.

    After recording a second win over Michael Chandler last November, “Do Bronx” was expecting to face the winner of the original UFC 311 main event later this year.

    But with the division appearing to be without a definitive next in line — assuming White’s remarks on Tsarukyan’s status prove true — perhaps the Brazilian will have the chance to avenge his UFC 300 setback to the Armenian.

  • Dana White Says Arman Tsarukyan Must Earn Another Title Shot After UFC 311 Dropout

    Arman Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw from UFC 311, costing him a chance to compete for the lightweight championship.

    A back injury prevented him from facing lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev in the originally scheduled main event. The UFC secured Renato Moicano as a last-minute replacement, with the Brazilian ultimately losing to the Dagestani via first-round submission. The victory marked Makhachev’s fourth consecutive title defense.

    At the UFC 311 post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White addressed Tsarukyan’s situation.

    “He’s not getting a title shot,” White stated. “That means he’s going to have to fight his way back to the title.”

    White further elaborated on the circumstances of Tsarukyan’s withdrawal.

    “He’s going back to the drawing board. I don’t want anybody to ever fight hurt, ever. We’ve been in these positions before. Went down there with the doctor, went down there with Heather [Linden] from the [UFC Performance Institute], who you can ask any fighter or anybody else, she’s the best in the world. You miss opportunities sometimes, and he did. So we’ll see how this plays out for him next year.”

  • Islam Makhachev Reacts To Late-Notice UFC 311 Opponent Change: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Who’

    Islam Makhachev Reacts To Late-Notice UFC 311 Opponent Change: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Who’

    Islam Makhachev remains unfazed by whoever stands across from him in the Octagon on Saturday night, as he’s focused on accomplishing the task at hand.

    Makhachev was initially slated to defend his lightweight title against former rival Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC 311 this weekend at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    However, on Friday morning, the headliner took an unforeseen turn when UFC CEO Dana White announced that “Ahalkalakets” had been forced to withdraw from the rematch due to a back injury.

    Makhachev will now square off against Renato Moicano in the newly revamped main event of UFC 311. Originally scheduled to face Beneil Dariush in a 155-pound clash on the main card, “Money” has now seized the eleventh-hour opportunity to challenge for the UFC title after Tsarukyan’s injury sidelined the original matchup.

    The Dagestani champion embraced the unanticipated shift, proudly echoing his own quote, which White had prominently displayed on the walls of the UFC Performance Institute.

    “‘What does this title represent? It means you’re the best in the world and if you’re the best in the world, it doesn’t matter who’s going to be standing across from you. What do I say? No? NEVER. Let’s do this!’” Makhachev wrote on X.

    Makhachev is riding a remarkable 14-fight win streak, with his most recent appearance at UFC 303 in June 2024. There, he secured a gritty fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier to successfully retain his title.

    Meanwhile, Moicano is on a four-fight win streak and has been relentless since his move to the 155-pound division, boasting six victories in his last seven bouts. “Money” enters this title fight on the back of a dominant second-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage) over Benoît Saint Denis at UFC Paris in September.

  • Arman Tsarukyan’s First Statement On UFC 311 Withdrawal: ‘Hardest Decision I’ve Ever Had To Make’

    Arman Tsarukyan has spoken publicly following his decision to pull out of Saturday’s UFC 311 pay-per-view.

    Tsarukyan is currently in Los Angeles, where he had hoped to avenge his 2019 loss to Islam Makhachev to capture the lightweight crown and cement himself among the all-time top names at 155 pounds.

    But the chance to do so will have to wait, with the Armenian withdrawing from the opening numbered event of 2025 just one day out after injuring his back while cutting weight.

    The news was first reported by Red Corner MMA before being confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White, who also revealed that Renato Moicano has been pulled from his original showdown with Beneil Dariush to challenge Makhachev in tomorrow night’s headliner.

    A clearly devastated Tsarukyan, meanwhile, recently took to social media with his first remarks since the disappointing revelation emerged.

    “I regret to inform everyone that the news is that I had to pull out of UFC 311 with a back injury is true. This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my fighting career. I would like to thank the UFC for understanding and I look forward to competing for my first UFC Championship in the future. Thank you all for your support.”

  • Arman Tsarukyan Out Of Islam Makhachev Rematch At UFC 311, Renato Moicano Steps In

    Arman Tsarukyan Out Of Islam Makhachev Rematch At UFC 311, Renato Moicano Steps In

    Disaster has struck one day out from the first pay-per-view of 2025, with Arman Tsarukyan out of UFC 311.

    Tsarukyan and Makhachev faced off at Thursday’s press conference ahead of their second meeting inside the cage Saturday night in Los Angeles.

    Years on from their competitive collision at a 2019 UFC Fight Night in Moscow, which the Russian won on the scorecards, the pair were set to do battle for Makhachev’s lightweight crown on Jan. 18.

    But during the weigh-ins, a report from Red Corner MMA emerged revealing that Tsarukyan has withdrawn just north of 24 hours out from his first title challenge on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Dana White later confirmed the news himself on social media, while also announcing that Renato Moicano will step in to challenge Makhachev in tomorrow night’s headliner.

    The Brazilian had already hit the scale for UFC 311, with Moicano making championship weight ahead of his previously scheduled three-round contest with Beneil Dariush.

    While he is only ranked #10 in the division, he is riding a four-fight win streak. He’s also coming off a dominant showing opposite Benoît Saint Denis in Paris, a similar result that netted Dustin Poirier a title shot against Makhachev last year.

  • UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 Weigh-In Live Stream & Results

    UFC 311: Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 Weigh-In Live Stream & Results

    UFC 311 takes place tomorrow night, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging fights at Las Vegas’ Apex facility to kick off 2025, the mixed martial arts leader will host its first pay-per-view of the new year from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Two titles will be on the line at the top of the card, with Islam Makhachev defending his lightweight belt against familiar foe Arman Tsarukyan in the main event. Co-headlining, meanwhile, will be a first-time clash between reigning bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili and undefeated challenger Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Also on the main card will be returns for ex-light heavyweight champions Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill, as well as charging 155-pound contender Renato Moicano and the always entertaining Kevin Holland.

    UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC 311 takes place Saturday, January 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    See above for a replay of the UFC 311 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.

    Main Card:

    • Lightweight Championship: Islam Makhachev (154.5lbs) vs. Arman Tsarukyan
    • Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili (134lbs) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (135lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Jiří Procházka (204.5lbs) vs. Jamahal Hill (204.5lbs)
    • Lightweight: Beneil Dariush (155lbs) vs. Renato Moicano (155lbs)
    • Middleweight: Kevin Holland (183.5lbs) vs. Reinier de Ridder (184.5lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Payton Talbott (135.5lbs) vs. Raoni Barcelos (135.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida (235lbs) vs. Serghei Spivac (233lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Bogdan Guskov (205.5lbs) vs. Billy Elekana (200lbs)
    • Lightweight: Grant Dawson (156lbs) vs. Diego Ferreira (156lbs)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Middleweight: Zachary Reese (185.5lbs) vs. Azamat Bekoev (185.5lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Karol Rosa (135.5lbs) vs. Ailín Pérez (135lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Rinya Nakamura (135.5lbs) vs. Muin Gafarov (136lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Ricky Turcios (136lbs) vs. Benardo Sopaj (135lbs)
    • Flyweight: Tagir Ulanbekov (125.5lbs) vs. Clayton Carpenter (125.5lbs)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0mAy87Dps0
  • Israel Adesanya On How Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan Will Play Out At UFC 311: ‘Going To Be WrestleMania’

    Israel Adesanya On How Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan Will Play Out At UFC 311: ‘Going To Be WrestleMania’

    Israel Adesanya believes that fight fans are in for a grappling-heavy main event this weekend at UFC 311. At the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will face top contender Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch of their first encounter in 2019.

    With Tsarukyan making his UFC debut in their previous meeting, what surprised so many fans is that he was able to compete with Makhachev in the grappling exchanges which very few have been able to do even if he wasn’t able to secure the win. Both men do their best work on the ground but the biggest difference heading into their second bout is the significant improvements that they have made on the feet over the past few years.

    The challenger has shown that he is a dangerous striker with a wide kicking arsenal in particular which allows him to control the range and keep opponents guessing. His knockout over Beneil Dariush showed that he is able to get the job done without needing to get hold of his opponent to drag them to the canvas.

    Makhachev, on the other hand, has a simple but effective style which has led to him having a lot of success with his boxing, particularly in his last fight against Dustin Poirier where he won a lot of the exchanges against “The Diamond”.

    When breaking the fight down on his YouTube channel, the former two-time middleweight champion acknowledged how both of them have evolved into well-rounded mixed martial artists though it still seems likely that they will look test each others grappling once again. “The Last Stylebender” thinks that regardless of the fact that both men are confident strikers, they will revert to type in this matchup.

    “His striking is looking way more comfortable lately, way more polished. Arman as well… He’s got nice kicks, good hands, very explosive. But yeah, it’s gonna be a wrestling fight. It’s gonna be WrestleMania.”