Arman Tsarukyan only willing to drop to featherweight for UFC title shot

Arman Tsarukyan doesn’t want to drop down to featherweight unless it’s for a title shot. 

Tsarukyan (23-3) recently revealed that he is considering a return in June, with the opponent yet to be decided. Tsarukyan has been teasing a move to featherweight for a while now and doubled down on it. However, Tsarukyan will only consider dropping down a weight class to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the title. 

Tsarukyan’s podcast host suggested that “Ahalkalakets” could be booked against Movsar Evloev, where the winner would challenge Volkanovski. However, Tsarukyan clarified that he would prefer staying at lightweight unless offered a title shot at featherweight. Tsarukyan believes the lightweight division is more stacked, filled with more stars and opportunities to make more money.

Weighing His Options

“Roughly around June. They’re still deciding who I’ll fight,” Tsarukyan told IbraTV. “It’s even possible that I drop down to [featherweight] to fight for the title… Ideally, I would prefer to stay in my weight class at lightweight. But if that doesn’t happen, if they offer me a title fight at featherweight, then why not? Otherwise, there’s no point of fighting at featherweight against just anyone; I’d rather fight in my own division. Especially since in out division there are way more names, way more stars to fight, make more money, and gain more experience.” 

Tsarukyan went to the UFC bad books after pulling out of a scheduled lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev last year. Tsarukyan has since been deliberately sidelined from the lightweight title picture, even when an interim title fight was booked. Tsarukyan has been staying active in wrestling competitions as his UFC career stands at a crossroads.