By FCF Staff

Despite repeated comments from both Ilia Topuria and Dana White regarding Arman Tsarukyan’s title shot prospects, Chael Sonnen says the contender will challenge the new lightweight champ next.

Ever since Tsarukyan withdrew from a title fight with Islam Makhachev in January just hours out from UFC 311, Dana White has said the Armenian fighter is not next in line for a title shot.Topuria, meanwhile, has repeatedly said he won’t fight Tsarukyan next on account of his withdrawal from UFC 311.

But, recently Sonnen told MMA Junkie that he is hearing the UFC is in fact looking to book Topuria versus Tsarukyan. Here was some of what the former middleweight title challenger had to say.

“Outside of illness or injury, even if I’m breaking news to you, I’m not sharing my opinion. I’m sharing a fact with you: It’s Arman vs. Ilia. That is 100 percent the plan.”

“There’s a couple things (that have changed for Tsarukyan),” Sonnen said. “I’m obviously coming to you with information, whether I should have or shouldn’t have. Secondly, I was the best man at his wedding and his name is Darryl Christian and he’s the wrestling coach of Arman Tsarukyan. Third of all, I just spoke to coach (Sam Calavitta) who wanted to film Chimaev training, and it turned out Tsarukyan is in the room. And a bigger tell also is what Ilia did a week ago, which he said, ‘I don’t want the fight.’ The greats, they don’t even know they have it. …”

In addition, Sonnen cited the fact that Tsarukyan made championship weight as the back-up fighter for Topuria’s bout with Charles Oliveira in June, which saw him take the title via a first-round, knockout.

“(Tsarukyan) got put through a purgatory and he had to get out of it, but he did,” Sonnen said. “When he showed up, got licensed, weighed in, went through a training camp and he has to sit in the first row and even watch Paddy ‘The Baddy’ (Pimblett) get in the ring and get the attention and not him, I’m just saying, there is an appreciation, historically, that has shined down – and it’s also going to be shown to him.”

Tsarukyan (22-3) hasn’t competed since April, 2024, when he recorded a split decision win over Oliveira. The contender has won four straight fights and is 9-1 in his last 10 contests.