Robert Whittaker has denied rumors about a potential fight with Magomed Ankalaev. Dana White praised Arman Tsarukyan's current activity level and indicated he just needs to avoid acting like a "maniac" to secure a title shot. Tsarukyan stated that a fight with Islam Makhachev is unlikely as he believes Makhachev will retire after a couple more fights, and predicted he will become the face of the UFC within a year once he captures the title. Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier will serve as coaches on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Khamzat Chimaev reportedly made someone tap in 40 seconds during training, and Curtis Blaydes is receiving unusual support due to Josh Hockit's bizarre behavior in the fighter hotel.
Robert Whittaker has moved to shut down speculation linking him to a bout with Magomed Ankalaev, publicly denying that any such fight is in the works.
Meanwhile, UFC president Dana White has offered a pointed message to lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan: keep his head down and stay active, and a title shot will follow. White praised Tsarukyan's recent workload but cautioned that he simply needs to avoid erratic behavior to earn his crack at the lightweight championship.
Tsarukyan himself addressed the prospect of facing champion Islam Makhachev, suggesting the matchup may never materialize. The Armenian contender believes Makhachev, who holds a 28-1-0 record and currently sits atop both the welterweight division and the pound-for-pound rankings at 34 years old, will retire after only a couple more fights. Tsarukyan added a bold prediction of his own, stating he expects to capture the title and become the face of the UFC within a year.
On the coaching front, Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier have been announced as coaches for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Bisping, the 47-year-old former champion from England, carries a professional record of 30-9-0 and brings considerable broadcast and competitive experience to the role.
Elsewhere, Khamzat Chimaev continued to generate buzz from the training room, with reports emerging that the number-one-ranked middleweight forced a sparring partner to tap out in just 40 seconds. Chimaev, who stands six-foot-two and holds a 15-1-0 record, averages an imposing 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's title ambitions hinge on White's approval and continued activity in the lightweight division
- Makhachev's rumored retirement timeline, if accurate, could reshape the lightweight title picture entirely
- Chimaev's training room dominance keeps the middleweight contender in the conversation despite no fight announcement
- Bisping and Cormier's TUF pairing draws on two former champions with overlapping and contrasting fighting backgrounds
