MMA News

Tag: Arman Tsarukyan

  • Daniel Cormier Pushes Back On Interim Title Talk Amid Islam Makhachev Injury: ‘He’s Fought Twice Very Recently!’ 

    Daniel Cormier Pushes Back On Interim Title Talk Amid Islam Makhachev Injury: ‘He’s Fought Twice Very Recently!’ 

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier doesn’t think the idea of an interim lightweight title should be entertained while Islam Makhachev recovers.

    Makhachev cemented his grip on the crown earlier this summer when he put a stop to the late-career title ambitions of fan favorite Dustin Poirier at the UFC 302 pay-per-view in Newark.

    But the Dagestani may need to wait until 2025 before adding the name of another top contender at 155 pounds to his reign’s list of victims. While he was originally expected to defend the belt in a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan this October in Abu Dhabi, an injury has scuppered those plans.

    According to the challenger, either December or early 2025 are the two estimates for the champ’s return. And should the latter of those come to fruition, the Russian-Armenian is open to competing for an interim title in the meantime.

    That suggestion, however, has not gone down well with one former fighter-turned-color commentator…

    Cormier On Tsarukyan’s Interim Title Proposal: ‘Why Are We Creating Belts?!’

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier reacted to confirmation that injury will keep Makhachev out of UFC 308 this fall.

    After revealing a conversation in which Makhachev told him that recovery won’t take too long, Cormier rejected suggestions that an interim champ should be crowned in the Dagestani’s brief absence.

    Cormier pointed to Makhachev’s recent activity to push back on the interim title talk.

    “You get hurt, at times. Islam Makhachev has been active. He fought in October in Abu Dhabi against Alexander Volkanovski. He fought in (June) in Newark…fought Dustin Poirier,” Cormier said. “He’s fought twice very recently. If he was to fight in October, it would have been three fights in a calendar year.

    “There is no need for an interim championship. Chael, when in the world did we start to speak titles into existence?” Cormier continued. “Could you imagine, Chael, if when you were chasing down Anderson Silva and you go, ‘Well I’ll fight for an interim title if he ain’t ready in six months!’ … Who does Tsarukyan fight for the interim championship? It’s like, why are we creating belts, or trying (to)? … It just doesn’t need to be.”

    In terms of the “who” aspect of Cormier’s remarks, Tsarukyan name-dropped Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Michael Chandler as potential options for an interim title showdown in the coming months.

    It remains to be seen whether the UFC will fall on Tsarukyan or Cormier’s side. Should the promotion avoid an additional belt, the top lightweight contender would also appear content waiting a little longer for his first opportunity at achieving champ status on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • Arman Tsarukyan On Coaching Reality Show Opposite Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I Want To Beat Him…’

    Arman Tsarukyan On Coaching Reality Show Opposite Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I Want To Beat Him…’

    Despite solidifying himself as the number one contender in the lightweight division with his latest win, Arman Tsarukyan has got some time on his hands.

    The 27-year old stated that he was offered the lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev on the same night that he defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 300.

    He turned that opportunity down due to wanting more time to prepare and with Dustin Poirier stepping into his place at UFC 302, more time is certainly what he’s ended up with.

    Makhachev was previously gearing up for a return to Abu Dhabi in October but a recently announced hand injury means that his huge rematch with Tsarukyan will be pushed back once again.

    Instead, the next in line for a shot at the 155-pound title is keeping himself busy by coaching a similar series to The Ultimate Fighter, alongside another big name on the UFC roster.

    Arman Tsarukyan Describes What It’s Like To Coach Against Khamzat Chimaev On Russian Reality TV Series

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOpnuyF3ILM

    It was announced several months ago that Tsarukyan was set to feature on a reality TV series where both he and Khamzat Chimaev will coach competing teams.

    Hype Reality 3 sees them go up against one another and as you can always expect when you have world class athletes involved, things are getting competitive as Tsarukyan detailed in a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    “It’s good and I want to beat him, he wants to beat me so I train my fighters very well to win [against] his fighters.”

    He went on to say that whilst both men are doing what they can to ensure the best results for their teams, tensions haven’t boiled over like they have done in previous seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.

    “No, we have good relationship with Khamzat and that’s why we just like a sport you know. Who is going to win, nothing else, no drama.”

    Read also: Umar Nurmagomedov Touts Bellator Champion As Islam Makhachev’s UFC Lightweight Successor

  • Arman Tsarukyan Names 3 Opponent Options For Interim UFC Title Fight In Light Of Islam Makhachev Injury

    Arman Tsarukyan Names 3 Opponent Options For Interim UFC Title Fight In Light Of Islam Makhachev Injury

    Should his expected shot at Islam Makhachev’s UFC lightweight title be delayed until 2025, Arman Tsarukyan is open to facing another contender for interim status.

    Tsarukyan secured his first opportunity at gold on MMA’s biggest stage by recording his biggest win to date at the expense of former champion Charles Oliveira on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April.

    With the promotion always looking to have Makhachev defend his belt in Abu Dhabi, Tsarukyan was expected to challenge his former opponent in the main event of UFC 308 this coming October.

    Disaster stuck recently, however, after Makhachev suffered a severe hand injury that could leave him on the sidelines until late 2024 or even the next calendar year.

    While a patient wait until December would be welcomed by Tsarukyan, the top contender wouldn’t mind returning to action in the meantime should the latter of those two timelines come to fruition…

    Tsarukyan Open To Poirier, Gaethje, Chandler Matchups For Interim Title

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOpnuyF3ILM&pp=ygUQc3VibWlzc2lvbiByYWRpbw%3D%3D

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Tsarukyan provided an update on the status of his title shot following confirmation that Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway for the featherweight belt will instead top the UFC 308 lineup on Oct. 26.

    The Russian-Armenian acknowledged that he may need to wait until 2025 to compete with undisputed gold on the line. And if that’s the case, he’d be open to adding a second champ to the division by facing either Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, or Michael Chandler for an interim strap.

    “My manager told me I was gonna fight in October versus Islam, and then he said to UFC that he got injured. Now, they’ve moved that fight to December or maybe next year,” Tsarukyan said. “Of course it’s sad, because I already started training really hard and I’m in shape. … But it is what it is.

    “If it’s December, for me it doesn’t matter. I’m gonna wait and train as much as I can,” Tsarukyan continued. “If Islam can’t fight this year, for sure I would like to fight for the interim title, and it doesn’t matter who is gonna be in front of me. Dustin Poirier, he is a solid fighter and he has a lot of experience. Yeah, it would be great. Dustin, Gaethje — Michael Chandler as well.”

    During his rise up the lightweight ladder, Tsarukyan frequently accused the likes of Gaethje and Chandler of holding their top five positions hostage by not fighting up-and-comers.

    More recently, his focus has been on Chandler’s continued wait for Conor McGregor’s comeback, which was recently scrapped from the UFC 303 card in June due to an injury to the Irishman.

    With talk of Chandler finally moving on, perhaps the former three-time Bellator champ will be receptive to Tsarukyan’s interim title pitch.

  • Did Dustin Poirier Retire? Status Of Veteran UFC Fighter

    Did Dustin Poirier Retire? Status Of Veteran UFC Fighter

    Dustin Poirier has become one of the biggest UFC stars ever, despite never becoming an undisputed champion in the promotion. Fans have always appreciated his aggressive fighting style, endurance, and consistency.

    Throughout 39 pro fights, Poirier has interestingly never lost two bouts consecutively. Since his last loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, “The Diamond” has been considering retirement instead of bouncing back again.

    Here’s whether Poirier has officially retired and the conditions he’s laid down for returning to the Octagon…

    Is Dustin Poirier Retired From The UFC?

    No, Poirier is yet to confirm his retirement from the UFC. He recently appeared on the official MMA Junkie YouTube channel and discussed his latest vacation with friends and family.

    The former interim UFC lightweight champion needs more time to confirm if he will never fight for the UFC again. He also aims to get back to training and evaluate his performance and conditioning.

    When asked whether spending time with loved ones helped him decide about his career, here’s what “The Diamond” said:

    “We’ll clean it up. Go 30 days, August, and just make a decision after that, you know. Get in shape, see how you feel. So, we’ll see man, I don’t know.
    I need to make a solid decision so I can get out of the limbo, you know, because I’m still kind of like fighting myself every day not sure what I’m doing.”

    Poirier also revealed that his body has been recovering well after the Makhachev fight. He needs nose surgery that can be delayed if he wants, but his knees and ribs feel better. So, his priority is to get back to training.

    Dustin Poirier Admits Interest In Fighting For The Interim UFC Lightweight Championship

    Poirier has agreed to fight Arman Tsarukyan for the interim UFC lightweight championship if Makhachev cannot compete in October due to injury. Considering that the division has no other solid contenders, the fight could be more realistic than it seems.

    An interim belt win would ensure Poirier gets another shot at the UFC lightweight title. This explains why he’s not equally interested in other popular opponents like Charles Oliveira, Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, and Alexander Volkanovski.

    “Yeah, I wonder what they’re going to do with that, you know. Who’s? Arman’s gonna continue to like wait for Islam. I don’t know when Islam’s going to be back but I saw a thing he said is, he might have to have surgery so we’ll see man.”

    Overall, fans can look forward to learning more concrete details about Poirier’s retirement or upcoming fight in the coming weeks.

  • Islam Makhachev Hand Injury: Is Potential UFC 308 Title Defense Against Arman Tsarukyan In Jeopardy?

    Islam Makhachev Hand Injury: Is Potential UFC 308 Title Defense Against Arman Tsarukyan In Jeopardy?

    Islam Makhachev has been eyeing a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan to defend his UFC lightweight championship. He last fought Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 and was expected to return at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26, 2024.

    Makhachev and Tsarukyan first crossed paths in April 2019. Although the Armenian fighter threw and landed more strikes, the Dagestani prospect bagged the decision win due to four takedowns and over five minutes of control time.

    The UFC lightweight kingpin had recently revealed a hand injury that could potentially delay his return. Makhachev and his coach have now shared more details and clarified whether defending the title at UFC 308 is no longer a possibility…

    Islam Makhachev’s UFC Return Could Be Delayed To Early 2025

    Javier Mendez recently appeared on Helen Yee Sports on YouTube and shared the implications of Makhachev’s hand injury. The coach first explained that a ligament-related injury has left the champion unable to train.

    “Yes, he’s got a ligament injury and he’s, you know, looking for consultation. Not looking, he’s getting consultation from different doctors and we’ll see what they say he has to do. But yeah, no, he’s not going to be able to train to, you know, for a fight so probably late December November or maybe January, I don’t know. Depends on what the UFC, and them, can come up with but he’s definitely not going to be ready to fight, you know, in October [UFC 308], like people are hoping.”

    As per Mendez, Makhachev is currently receiving advice from several doctors that would decide the fate of his UFC return. However, he admitted that defending the UFC lightweight belt at UFC 308 in October is unlikely.

    Mendez believes that a late 2024 or early 2025 return to the Octagon is more realistic for Makhachev. Because there’s a lack of contenders at lightweight, Tsarukyan is still likely to be the challenger. Moving up a weight class is also off the table because Makhachev and Belal Muhammad have been training together and have no intention to fight each other.

  • Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’

    Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’

    Charles Oliveira lost a razor-close decision to Arman Tsarukyan last time out at UFC 300, and he’s now looking for a new opponent.

    With 19 post-fight bonuses, the Brazilian’s easily one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and there are several intriguing matchups for him.

    Oliveira bagged the UFC lightweight championship by beating Michael Chandler in May 2021. He defended it against Dustin Poirier before being stripped after missing weight prior to his victory over Justin Gaethje.

    Since failing to regain the title in his clash with Islam Makhachev, he’s defeated Beneil Dariush and is looking for another high-profile win to get a another shot at the gold.

    From Makhachev to Colby Covington, here are all the fighters that Oliveira is open to facing in his UFC return…

    Oliveira Eyes Rematch Against Makhachev, Also Open To Money Fights With McGregor, Covington, Poirier

    Oliveira recently posted training footage on Instagram and asked his fans to choose his next opponent. He’s willing to fight the following names on the UFC roster:

    • Islam Makhachev
    • Arman Tsarukyan
    • Dustin Poirier
    • Conor McGregor
    • Max Holloway
    • Justin Gaethje
    • Alexander Volkanovski
    • Colby Covington

    Alongside the list, Oliveira declared his intention to fight shortly.

    “Who would you like to see me fight next? The Lion is ready!!”

    “Do Bronx” has already fought Tsarukyan, Makhachev, Poirier, Gaethje, and Holloway. While Makhachev submitted him in the second, he fought through adversity to beat “The Diamond” and “The Highlight.” The fight with Holloway ended due to the Brazilian sustaining a shoulder injury, and fans could look forward to seeing the rematch more than ever now.

    The other matchups on the list won’t necessarily move the needle in the UFC lightweight division. McGregor has lost three out of his last four fights and will most likely return to face Michael Chandler. Volkanovski, meanwhile, is 0-2 in the lightweight division and has yet to rematch Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight title.

    Covington is another opponent that “Do Bronx” would fight to entertain the fans. The former interim UFC welterweight champion decisively lost to Leon Edwards in his last fight and appears unlikely to fight for the title again.

    Regardless of the opponent, it is safe to assume that Oliveira will bring the fight to the Octagon and give fans another gritty performance.

  • Islam Makhachev Next Fight Opponent & Date Speculated: Will Hand Injury Affect His Title Defense Against Arman Tsarukyan?

    Islam Makhachev Next Fight Opponent & Date Speculated: Will Hand Injury Affect His Title Defense Against Arman Tsarukyan?

    Islam Makhachev last defended his UFC lightweight title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 on June 2, 2024. He’s defended the belt thrice now, and fans are excited to see him battle it out against former rival Arman Tsarukyan.

    The Armenian prospect is riding a four-fight win-streak which includes a decision win over former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. However, he’ll be out of action until, at least, October 12, 2024, due to a suspension for punching a fan while walking out.

    Makhachev has now revealed a hand injury as well, and here’s how it could affect his next fight and opponent.

    Who Is Islam Makhachev’s Next Fight?

    Despite the hand injury, Makhachev is most likely to fight Tsarukyan for the UFC lightweight championship next. “Ahalkalakets” is the only fighter in the division with a strong case for a title shot, and the kingpin has acknowledged it repeatedly.

    Interestingly, Makhachev is one of the only three fighters to beat Tsarukyan in his pro-MMA career. They fought in April 2019 at UFC Fight Night 149 and after three rounds of high-level grappling exchanges, the Dagestani fighter got the judges’ nod.

    Since the loss, Tsarukyan has racked up nine wins, and his close decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot was seen as an impressive performance nonetheless.

    When Will Islam Makhachev Return To The UFC?

    Makhachev, during an interview with Ushatayka on YouTube, revealed that a hand injury might force him to get surgery, meaning he might not be able to fight at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. This was the event rumored to feature his next title defense but naturally, it is hard to confirm anything now.

    The news is undeniably disappointing for fans of the UFC lightweight champion as he was keen to defend his title again in 2024.

    Tsarukyan, on the other hand, will feature in an anti-bullying PSA video to reduce his nine-month suspension to six and be eligible to fight after October 12. This could become insignificant if the champion cannot fight, though.

    Read also: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Belal Muhammad’s Title Win Over Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘I’m A Fan Now!’

  • Islam Makhachev Reveals Injury Has Left Planned October UFC Title Defense In Doubt

    The UFC may be receiving a major blow to its schedule for the second half of 2024, as UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has revealed that he is suffering from a hand injury.

    According to a video interview Makhachev did with Russian MMA and boxing media outlet Ushatayka, Makhachev revealed that a recent MRI has shown damage to the ligaments in one of his hands.

    It is unknown when he suffered this injury, though Makhachev seemed to suggest it may have come from his victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 last month.

    Makhachev is currently exploring options and looking to see if he can recover without surgery. If he has to have the procedure, it will almost certainly leave him unable to compete for the rest of 2024.

    This would mean the planned lightweight championship fight between Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26 is in major jeopardy.

    “After the fight, my fists hurt, a lot of things hurt,” Makhachev said (translation provided via @ChampRDS on X). “We’ll take time, everything is healing little by little. An MRI recently confirmed that I have a partial ligament tear. Let’s see if I can recover. If not, I might even have to have surgery.

    “(Fighting in Abu Dhabi on October 26) is questionable. We haven’t talked about the fight yet… I really want to perform before the end of the year. I plan to, too…let’s see what happens.”

    Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan Title Fight Potentially Set For Delay

    The UFC has annually held a fall pay-per-view (originally September before moving to October) in Abu Dhabi since 2019. All but one event has seen either Khabib Nurmagomedov or Makhachev main eventing.

    Questions of Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan originally arose because of a nine-month suspension the Nevada State Athletic Commission handed down to Tsarukyan for a pre-fight altercation he had with a fan while making his entrance for UFC 300. However, it’s expected that the Russian-Armenian will do a PSA that will reduce his suspension to six months, allowing him to stay in the plans for an October title fight.

    Tsarukyan defeated former champion Charles Oliveira at the event in a lightweight title eliminator to seemingly secure a second dance with the champ.

    Makhachev, meanwhile, defeated Oliveira to claim the lightweight title at UFC 280. He retained the belt successfully against then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski twice in 2023.

    It is unknown what the UFC’s plans would be for Abu Dhabi in October if Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan cannot take place. Mateusz Gamrot, who faces Dan Hooker at UFC 305 in August, is the only lightweight fighter in the top five of the UFC’s lightweight rankings — minus Tsarukyan — with a win in his most recent fight.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Reacts To Islam Makhachev’s Latest Welterweight Tease At UFC 302: ‘Don’t Try To Run…’

    Islam Makhachev continued to show his prowess with his fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier to retain the UFC lightweight title in the main event of UFC 302.

    Makhachev’s victory now sparks questions about what could be next for him. It’s no secret that the next target date for the Dagestani could be in late October in Abu Dhabi, as Makhachev has done the last two years and his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, did before him.

    However, while many speculated that the next logical step would be a title defense against Arman Tsarukyan, Makhachev stated in his UFC 302 post-fight interview that he’s eyeing a new challenge in moving up to challenge current UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

    In a response on X (formerly Twitter), Tsarukyan gave a respectful congratulations to the lightweight champ but suggested that he was looking to run away from him.

    “Congrats to Islam! But don’t try to run away to another division. You’ve only defended your title once against a real lightweight, and I’m next in line,” Tsarukyan wrote.

    Tsarukyan Implies Makhachev Is Trying To Run From Him By Targeting Welterweight Title

    Tsarukyan seemingly became the next contender to the lightweight title by way of his finish of former champion, and previous top contender, Charles Oliveira in a title eliminator at UFC 300 in April.

    Makhachev defeated Oliveira at UFC 280 in October 2022 to capture the lightweight championship. He has since defended the title twice against then-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, in addition to Poirier.

    Edwards, meanwhile, is scheduled to defend the welterweight championship against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304, which takes place on July 27 in Manchester, England.

    The UFC has previously announced that this year’s Abu Dhabi pay-per-view card will be UFC 308, which will take place on October 26. Makhachev has also teased another appearance on US soil instead, specifically Madison Square Garden the following month.

  • Tsarukyan: 70% Of Russians Thought Ferguson Would Beat Khabib

    UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan claims the majority of Russians picked Tony Ferguson to upend Khabib Nurmagomedov in the Octagon.

    Tsarukyan has been on a tear with five-straight wins in the UFC. He earned a brutal TKO finish over Joel Alvarez at UFC Vegas 49 to continue his climb up the lightweight rankings.

    While Tsarukyan has proven to be a real factor at 155 pounds, he has arguably yet to earn a signature big-name win on his record. His lone defeat came against Islam Makhachev in April 2019.

    Arman Tsarukyan Says Tony Ferguson Has A Lot Of Support, But Can’t Beat Khabib

    During a past media scrum, Tsarukyan gave his thoughts on the seemingly cursed Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov matchup. The two were once considered the best lightweights in the world and a very intriguing stylistic matchup.

    Many believed that Ferguson had the tools to give Khabib trouble wherever the fight would go, including on the mat. And apparently, the majority of Russians thought so as well.

    “I don’t think so,” Tsarukyan said when asked about Ferguson’s chances against Nurmagomedov. “But, you know, I live in Russia … UFC is I think number one sport. Everyone, like, watch UFC, and like 70% said Tony Ferguson was going to win—I don’t know why. Tony Ferguson really, like, he has a lot of fans in Russia.”

    Ferguson and Nurmagomedov were supposed to fight on numerous occasions during their respective careers, but the bout constantly fell through. Nurmagomedov retired following his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

    Ferguson is looking to get back in the win column after losses to Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush. He hasn’t won since his finish doctor’s stoppage victory over Donald Cerrone at UFC 238. He is currently scheduled to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 274.

    Do you believe Arman Tsarukyan Do you think most Russians picked Tony Ferguson to beat Khabib?

  • Tsarukyan Doubles Down On Gillespie Callouts: “He Is Scared Of Me”

    UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan has once again expressed his desire to share the Octagon with Gregor Gillespie, who he believes is “scared” to face him.

    If Tsarukyan wasn’t on your radar as one of the hottest prospects in the UFC before UFC Vegas 49, he certainly is now. After falling to a loss on promotional debut to Islam Makhachev, the Armenian got back on track with three consecutive unanimous decision wins.

    But now, Tsarukyan has returned to the finishing form that brought him 10 stoppages in his first 13 victories in professional MMA. After a first-round TKO victory over Christos Giagos last September, the 25-year-old hoped to impress even more in his first outing of 2022.

    With some brutal elbows and a vicious second-round TKO against fellow young prospect Joel Álvarez, Tsarukyan did just that.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CadimB1pAe4/

    Now, having risen to #12 in the UFC lightweight rankings, Tsarukyan is looking ahead to his next challenge, with the goal being a place inside the divisional top 10. When discussing his next move post-fight, the two-time Performance of the Night winner had a familiar name on his lips.

    Tsarukyan Sees Gillespie As Route To LW Top 10

    Prior to his fight with Álvarez coming to fruition and after it became apparent a verbal feud with Dan Hooker wasn’t likely to reach the Octagon, Tsarukyan had his sights set on top-10 contender Gillespie.

    With “The Gift” seemingly declining him as an opponent, Tsarukyan was forced to look elsewhere. But during his appearance at the UFC Vegas 49 post-fight press conference, the Armenian circled back to the decorated wrestler, calling him out and accusing the 34-year-old of being “scared.”

    “You know, in our division, like, I wanna fight with top 10, but now everybody almost have fights, and just (Gregor) Gillespie doesn’t have fight. He is scared of me, you know? UFC offered me twice fights with him, and he doesn’t want fights. I don’t know what he wants, but I’d like fight with him because he’s number nine, it’s gonna be good fight, we both wrestlers. If I win him, it gets me close to title shot and top fighters.”

    Tsarukyan previously made a Gillespie offer public. Last October, the 25-year-old took to Instagram to confirm he’d accepted an approach from the UFC to face “The Fisherman.” While he hadn’t answered at the time, the response evidently wasn’t the acceptance Tsarukyan was after.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CUxVIPYMiH8/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Interestingly, Tsarukyan’s latest callout comes a few weeks after former UFC star Chael Sonnen claimed he’d been told Gillespie has a habit of rejecting fights.

    While he didn’t possess evidence other than an apparent source, Tsarukyan’s failed attempts to make the matchup come together, as well as the veteran’s lengthy periods of inactivity, certainly supports Sonnen’s claims.

    It remains to be seen whether the Armenian’s recent remarks will be met with a more positive response from the #9-ranked contender.

    Would you like to see Arman Tsarukyan face Gregor Gillespie next?