Arman Tsarukyan says ‘next fight will be only for the belt,’ even if it’s interim.
That was just too easy to open with on my part. We’re still waiting for Tsarukyan to reduce his nine-month suspension from the NSAC with a requested anti-bullying PSA after his UFC 300 fan altercation. After that, nothing should stop him from receiving the rematch of his UFC debut against the now-champion.
Well, I take that back. Makhachev has a torn ligament in his hand after beating Dustin Poirier into almost-retirement at UFC 302 in June. Therefore, the champ’s wishful thought of returning in Madison Square Garden this November isn’t looking likely. Regardless, Tsarukyan plans to only fight for gold in his next fight, whether with or without Makhachev.
“I am the No. 1 contender,” Tsarukyan told Artem Tarasov. “[Makhachev] says that I only talk, how can a person talk and be in the top one? It turns out I’m not just talking, I’m also doing and proving it with my actions.
“I became No. 1 and proved to the whole world that I am a contender for the title, and my next fight will be only for the belt. So it could be an interim title if he doesn’t have time to recover his hand. If he recovers his hand, it will be even better for me.”
Tsarukyan, 27, continued his winning ways with a fourth straight triumph (22-3) at UFC 300 this past April, defeating former champion Charles Oliveira via split decision. Since he joined the promotion in April 2019, Tsarukyan has only tasted defeat twice with the first coming in his aforementioned debut against Makhachev via unanimous decision.
The American Top Team (ATT) product appears to be in luck when it comes to the security of his title shot thanks to Makhachev’s injury and Belal Muhammad’s recent welterweight title coronation. Due to the relationship between the two champions, the idea of a champion vs. champion bout has been nixed by each. That leaves the lightweight and pound-for-pound great Makhachev to try and break the divisional title defense record, which he tied at three with his fifth-round d’arce choke of Poirier.