Arman Tsarukyan is the odd man out within the UFC light-weight title image proper now.
Simply three months in the past, Tsarukyan had a golden alternative to probably beat Islam Makhachev for his belt and avenge a 2019 loss to the light-weight champion. Sadly for Tsarukyan, a again harm compelled him to tug out the day earlier than struggle evening and he has not been assured a re-booking.
Tsarukyan has been open to combating anybody to earn one other probability, however a matchup is but to materialize. He believes Makhachev must decide first and that’s the domino that should fall to set the remainder of the division in movement.
“Proper now, as a result of it’s a harmful struggle and I don’t have a title,” Tsarukyan stated on the JAXXON podcast when requested why nobody needs to struggle him. “So [Charles] Oliveira needs to struggle for the title, [Ilia] Topuria needs to struggle, all people needs to struggle for the title and when the title struggle is booked, then I’m going to get the struggle.”
It’s doable the highest of the light-weight roster has to attend for the aftermath of UFC 315 earlier than discovering out their subsequent assignments.
The Might 10 occasion is headlined by welterweight champion Belal Muhammad defending towards Jack Della Maddalena. Muhammad trains with Makhachev, which has prevented Makhachev from shifting up in weight to problem for a second belt. Ought to Della Maddalena win, that might open the door for Makhachev to struggle him as a substitute.
And may that occur, a vacant or interim title may very well be up for grabs. Tsarukyan expects to be a part of that equation if Makhachev does certainly depart the light-weight division.
“Relies upon, if Islam goes to maneuver to 170 [pounds], yeah, they’ve acquired to provide me the interim title with any individual,” Tsarukyan stated.
One state of affairs that wouldn’t shock Tsarukyan is Ilia Topuria leaping over the present light-weight contenders to get an instantaneous title shot towards Makhachev. The now former featherweight champion lately vacated his belt with plans to maneuver as much as 155 kilos and if Muhammad retains and Makhachev stays put, the UFC matchmakers may bounce on the probability to make the Makhachev-Topuria superfight occur.
Tsarukyan expects that’s the way it’s all going to unfold, although even when Makhachev fights and defeats Topuria, there’s nonetheless one check Tsarukyan thinks he has to undergo earlier than leaving the division.
“I feel [Topuria] acquired to struggle for the belt, for positive,” Tsarukyan stated. “I feel he left 145 due to that, as a result of they stated, ‘OK, we’re going to provide you title struggle.’ … Islam doesn’t wish to struggle him as a result of if he wins, persons are going to say, ‘OK, you once more beat a 145 fighter and he’s not No. 1 contender.’
“If Islam beats me, I feel he’s carried out with this division. He beat all people, simply he’s acquired to beat me after which individuals can say that.”
