UFC CEO Dana White recently answered one of the top questions among fans: When will Arman Tsarykuan get another shot at the 155-pound championship?
Tsarukyan recently defeated Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar and declared champion Ilia Topuria. However, Topuria went on hiatus the following week, after which the UFC announced an interim title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. White also declared himself the winner of this interim match will fight ‘El Matador’ to unite the bonds once he returns.
‘Ahalkalakets’ wanted a BMF title fight after Gaethje vs. Pimblet was announced, but the UFC booked the BMF champion, Max Holloway, to face Charles Oliveira in a rematch at UFC 326.
Arman Tsarukyan, the No. 1 ranked UFC lightweight prospect, got his first shot at the undisputed title earlier this year at UFC 311 in a rematch with then-lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. However, the Armenian fighter withdrew at the eleventh hour due to a back injury.
The promotion did not take the withdrawal lightly and White announced during the UFC 311 press round that Tsarukyan is going back to the drawing board and will have to work his way up for a title shot again.
Recently, after the victory over Hooker, ‘Ahalkalakets’ thought he had done enough to earn the title. However, earlier tonight during the UFC 323 post-fight presser, White revealed the real reason why Tsarukyan didn’t get a title shot and what he needs to do next to get one.
Dana White shrugs off the rankings and says Arman Tsarukyan should still have a chance
UFC CEO Dana White believes Arman Tsarukyan hasn’t done enough to secure another title shot. Making weight and serving as a backup for the headliner of UFC 317 and then beating Hooker recently isn’t enough for Tsarukyan to earn a shot at undisputed UFC lightweight gold.
White confirmed what he said earlier this year:
“He had a chance, and you know how that turned out. He’s going to have to fight his way back. I don’t care what the song says.”
Check out Dana White’s comments about Arman Tsarukyan below:
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