Arman Tsarukyan Says He's Been Promised the Next Lightweight Title Shot

Arman Tsarukyan says the lightweight title shot he lost a year ago is finally coming back around. The #2-ranked contender, 24-3 with six wins in a row inside the UFC, told MMA Fighting's Mike Heck that he's been assured his next octagon appearance will be for the 155-pound belt, with a target window of early next year. No date, no opponent — just a promise.

That matters because this is the fight Tsarukyan almost had. He was set to challenge Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January 2025 before health issues forced him out just a day before the card. He clawed his way back with a first-round knockout of Mauricio Ruffy in September, a result that looked like it cemented him as the obvious next man up.

Why the Title Picture Got Messy

Here's the complication. Champion Justin Gaethje is reportedly weighing retirement, and there's chatter about an immediate Gaethje–Ilia Topuria rematch — a scenario that would freeze Tsarukyan out entirely. So the 'you're next' assurance is doing a lot of heavy lifting until the matchmaking actually lands.

Tsarukyan has at least left himself options. He said if the promotion didn't hand him a lightweight title shot, he'd be willing to drop to featherweight, but based on what he's heard, he's staying put at 155. He framed lightweight as the perfect weight for him and said he wants to break every record in the division and end up the best ever to do it.

The Legacy Pitch

For a fighter who's become one of the UFC's more visible names partly through outside projects — frequent appearances for Real American Freestyle and a growing streaming presence — Tsarukyan insists the belt is the whole point. He said winning it would mean everything, and that once it's his, he wants to defend as often as possible rather than coast.

It's a notable stance given how many champions slow down after reaching the top. Tsarukyan says the first day with the belt will be euphoric and the second day will be back to work. Whether the division cooperates is another matter, but for now the message from the #2 contender is simple: he's been told he's next, and he's planning to stay busy once he gets there.