By FCF Staff

Arman Tsarukyan has been calling for a fight with Justin Gaethje in recent days. But, the way Dan Hooker sees it, the lightweight contender has no other options but to fight him.

Tsarukyan has yet to compete since he withdrew last minute from a title fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January. Ever since then, UFC CEO Dana White has said the Armenian fighter will need to record another victory, before he gets booked for another title shot.

Recently, Hooker was a guest on “Submission Radio“. While discussing his next bout, the dangerous striker outlined why he believes Tsarukyan needs to face him (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“Probably [Max Holloway’s] got one more I think [before rematching Topuria],” Hooker said. “Obviously, [Islam Makhachev’s] going up to welterweight. Ilia will probably fight [Justin] Gaethje. That leaves Holloway, and Holloway ain’t going to fight Arman, no one wants to see that. Holloway will probably fight [Charles] Oliveira, Gaethje will fight for the title, and then that leaves my man Arman, that’s the fight I want. That’s the fight that makes sense.

“They told him one more. He’s turned down [Mateusz] Gamrot, who’s ranked one before me. Let’s be honest, [Tsarukyan’s] a walking bag of sand, but he is a very good fighter and now all those big name guys, they’ve got a good excuse to not fight him. Ilia said he’s not going to fight him. The UFC says that he needs one more. And between Arman and me, there’s Oliveira, they’ve already had that fight. … [Tsarukyan’s] stuck fighting me. He’s got to fight me to get back in the mix and to get a title shot.”

It remains to be seen who the new lightweight champ, Ilia Topuria, will fight next. But, since he knocked Charles Oliveira out last month to become champion, Topuria has called for a fight with rival Paddy Pimblett.

Hooker (24-12), meanwhile, hasn’t fought since August 2024, when he recorded a split decision win over Mateusz Gamrot. The 35-year-old, New Zealand fighter has won three straight and is ranked #6 in the UFC’s lightweight division. Tsarukyan is currently ranked #2.