Arman Tsarukyan stated that a fight with Islam Makhachev is unlikely to happen, predicting that Makhachev will retire after a couple more fights. Tsarukyan claimed he will take over the sport within a year and become the face of the UFC, saying everyone will think of the UFC when they see him. Dana White commented that he likes Tsarukyan's current activity and that the Armenian only needs to avoid acting like a "maniac" to secure a title shot. White also called Tsarukyan a "tough bastard." Robert Whittaker has denied rumors of a potential bout with Magomed Ankalaev.
Arman Tsarukyan has declared that a fight with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is unlikely to materialize, while also boldly forecasting that he will become the face of the UFC within a year.
Tsarukyan made the comments in a recent interview, predicting that Makhachev will retire after just a couple more fights. Rather than waiting on that matchup, the Armenian contender said he intends to seize control of the sport himself, claiming that fans will soon associate the UFC with his name alone. UFC president Dana White weighed in supportively, saying he appreciates Tsarukyan's recent activity level and that the fighter simply needs to avoid reckless behavior to earn a title shot. White also described Tsarukyan as a "tough bastard."
Makhachev, 34, currently holds the welterweight championship and carries a 28-1-0 record. The Russian southpaw is also ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings and lands takedowns at a rate of 3.2 per 15 minutes, underscoring why a matchup with any contender represents a formidable challenge.
In a separate development, Robert Whittaker has pushed back against rumors linking him to a potential bout with Magomed Ankalaev. Whittaker, 35, holds a 27-9-0 record and is ranked sixth in the middleweight division, averaging an impressive 4.39 significant strikes per minute. Ankalaev, meanwhile, is the number-one ranked light heavyweight contender at 34 years old with a 21-2-1 record and a 191 cm frame, and is ranked fifth pound-for-pound. The two fighters compete in different weight classes, which likely contributed to skepticism around the rumored matchup from the start.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's comments signal his intention to push aggressively for a lightweight title shot in the near term
- Makhachev's pound-for-pound standing makes any challenger's path exceptionally difficult regardless of timing
- Whittaker's denial closes the door on a cross-divisional rumor involving two of the sport's more active fighters
