By FCF Staff

Arman Tsarukyan has been calling out several of the UFC’s top lightweights in an effort to solidify his next fight. But, the number one contender believes he will contine to wait on the sidelines, until the next lightweight title fight is finalized.

Tsarukyan was booked to fight champion Islam Makhachev in January, but he withdrew on short notice due to a reported back injury. Following his withdrawal, UFC CEO Dana White said Tsarukyan would need to defeat another contender, before he received a title shot.

Since then, Ilia Topuria has vacated the featherweight belt to pursue a run at lightweight, prompting speculation the UFC is hoping to finalize a fight between Makhachev and Topuria. Makhachev hasn’t sounded overly interested in the match-up, however, and it remains unclear what’s next for the lightweight title. The Dagestani star has repeatedly expressed an interest in moving up to welterweight, but Makhachev has also said he won’t fight his training partner, the champion, Belal Muhammad.

Tsarukyan recently appeared on the JAXXON podcast. While discussing his future and the lightweight title picture, the Armenian outlined why he believes his next fight has yet to materialize (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“Right now, because it’s a dangerous fight and I don’t have a title. So [Charles] Oliveira wants to fight for the title, [Ilia] Topuria wants to fight, everybody wants to fight for the title and when the title fight is booked, then I’m going to get the fight.”

The 28-year-old also relayed he believes Topuria will fight for the lightweight title next.

“I think [Topuria] got to fight for the belt, for sure. I think he left 145 because of that, because they said, ‘OK, we’re going to give you title fight.’ … Islam doesn’t want to fight him because if he wins, people are going to say, ‘OK, you again beat a 145 fighter and he’s not No. 1 contender.’“

Tsarukyan (22-3) is coming off a split decision win over Charles Oliveira in April, 2024, and has won four straight.