Dana White commented that he likes Arman Tsarukyan's current activity level and that to secure a title fight, Tsarukyan simply needs to stop behaving like a maniac. Tsarukyan himself stated that a fight with Islam Makhachev is unlikely since Islam will retire after a couple more fights, and that he plans to take over the sport within a year. Tsarukyan believes he will become the face of the UFC once he captures the title. Meanwhile, Robert Whittaker has denied rumors about a potential fight with Magomed Ankalaev. The post also mentions that Paulo Costa stated he loves fighting Russians because they are tough like Brazilians, and that Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier will be the new coaching pair for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Dana White has publicly backed Arman Tsarukyan for a lightweight title shot, telling media that the Armenian-Russian contender has the activity level he wants to see — provided Tsarukyan keeps his behavior in check off the mat.
White's comments come as Tsarukyan himself made bold declarations about his future, stating that a matchup with reigning champion Islam Makhachev may never happen because he expects Makhachev to retire after just a couple more fights. Tsarukyan added that he intends to seize control of the division within a year and become the face of the UFC once he captures gold.
Makhachev, 34, currently holds the welterweight title and carries a 28-1-0 professional record. The Russian southpaw operates out of Eagles MMA and is ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate.
In other news making the rounds, middleweight Paulo Costa dismissed any suggestion that facing Russian opponents presents a unique challenge. The Brazilian, who holds a 16-4-0 record and ranks 13th in the middleweight division, said he enjoys fighting Russians because their toughness reminds him of his countrymen. At 35, Costa remains one of the division's most aggressive strikers, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Separately, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker denied reports linking him to a potential bout with Magomed Ankalaev, pushing back on that rumor directly.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's title ambitions put the lightweight division's near-term future in focus, with the No. 1 contender picture still unsettled.
- White's public endorsement suggests Tsarukyan is close to a title opportunity, pending conduct concerns.
- The next season of The Ultimate Fighter will feature Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier as opposing coaches, reuniting two of the sport's most prominent analyst-commentators in a competitive setting.
