By FCF Staff

Following UFC 311, Dana White relayed that Arman Tsarukyan will need to record a victory, before he’s booked for another title fight. But, Daniel Cormier believes the UFC should move forward with Tsarukyan challenging the current lightweight champ, Islam Makhachev.

Tsarukyan was booked to rematch Makhachev in the headliner of Saturday’s card, but on Friday it was announced a back injury had forced him out of the fight. Renato Moicano, who was scheduled to fight Beneil Dariush at the event, was moved into the headliner. Makhachev submitted the contender in the opening round.

Now it remains to be seen who will be next for Makhachev. But, during the card’s post-fight show, Cormier argued the UFC should proceed with the original headliner for UFC 311 (quote via MMA Fighting.com).

“I believe it still needs to be Tsarukyan, because I believe Tsarukyan, even though it’s a rematch and even though we know Charles [Oliveira] is supposed to be next, I still feel like Tsarukyan’s size, his abilities, his skill set, could present the biggest problems for Islam Makhachev.”

Tsarukyan faced Makhachev back in 2019 and lost via unanimous decision. The fight was his UFC debut.

Since then, the Armenian fighter has gone 9-1, and the run includes wins over Dariush and Charles Oliveira.