Arman Tsarukyan explains why UFC passed on him for title

Arman Tsarukyan has yet spoken retired astir wherefore the UFC didn’t springiness him a changeable astatine a rubric shot, contempt him being the apical contender successful the lightweight division. Fans person been frustrated for weeks astir the main lawsuit enactment for UFC 324, the archetypal lawsuit of 2026 and the archetypal lawsuit of the caller Paramount+ era. Instead of the astir logical candidates, Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje, warring for the vacant interim title, Tsarukyan was near out. Despite his grounds and form, the UFC decided helium was “too dangerous” to beryllium broadcast live.

When asked wherefore helium wasn’t fixed the shot, the 29-year-old combatant explained: “I was expected to combat for the title, and past they said, ‘You’re excessively unsafe to propulsion you connected the archetypal Paramount show.’ They said it was due to the fact that of my behavior, pulling retired of the combat and punching the fans. That’s wherefore they said, ‘You’ve got to wait.’ And I said okay. That’s the existent reason.”

Tsarukyan has been known for contention implicit the past year; the incidental astatine UFC 300 erstwhile helium punched a instrumentality remained a acheronian stain, and pulling retired of a scheduled rubric combat against Islam Makhachev further worsened his lasting with Dana White. Before his UFC debut successful Katra, helium made the concern adjacent much analyzable by shoving and headbutting Dan Hooker. The UFC is present evaluating the "profitability" of the event, and reputational hazard evidently plays a large role, not conscionable sporting value.

Focus connected the future

"I'll conscionable wait. I cognize that loop won't be… It'll beryllium mine. I enactment each time for it," helium declared, sounding calm and determined. Although his adjacent determination successful the UFC is unclear, Tsarukyan is progressive connected the grappling scene; connected Saturday, helium volition marque his Real American Freestyle debut against erstwhile PFL champion Lance Palmer. In parallel, a imaginable grappling combat against Dustin Poirier successful February is being negotiated.

"We've talked to Dustin Poirier astir doing a grappling combat against Arman successful February. He hasn't signed a declaration yet, but the speech has been going on," said Arman Martirosyan, caput of Hype FC, adding that determination is simply a Plan B if Poirier drops out.

The UFC continues to show the young fighter's diversion vocation arsenic helium patiently works his mode back, balancing MMA challenges with grappling matches. It's wide that Tsarukyan knows however to enactment focused and volition beryllium acceptable erstwhile the close accidental arises.