Arman Tsarukyan stated that a fight with Islam Makhachev is unlikely to happen, believing Makhachev will retire after a couple more fights. Tsarukyan expressed confidence that within a year he will dominate the sport and become the face of the UFC. He believes that once he captures the title, everyone will think of the UFC when they see him. Dana White commented that he likes Tsarukyan's current activity level and that the Armenian fighter just needs to avoid acting like a "maniac" to secure a title shot. The post also mentioned that Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier will serve as coaches on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Arman Tsarukyan has declared that he expects to become the face of the UFC within a year, while simultaneously predicting that a long-anticipated showdown with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev may never materialise.
Speaking publicly, Tsarukyan expressed his belief that Makhachev will retire after just a couple more fights, effectively closing the door on a potential title clash between the two. The Armenian contender went further, stating that once he captures a UFC championship, the promotion itself will be defined by his presence.
Makhachev, 34, currently holds the welterweight title and carries a record of 28-1. Fighting out of Russia under the Eagles MMA banner, the southpaw champion lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy, and adds 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes to make him one of the most complete fighters in the sport.
UFC president Dana White weighed in on Tsarukyan's situation, saying he approves of the contender's recent activity level and that the fighter is close to securing a title shot — provided he keeps his conduct in check and avoids behaving like a, in White's words, "maniac."
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's public dismissal of a Makhachev fight reshapes the lightweight title picture and raises questions about who the next challenger will be.
- White's measured endorsement suggests Tsarukyan is genuinely in the title conversation, making his next move significant for the division.
- The comments add an element of personal confidence — or friction — that could influence matchmaking decisions in the coming months.
Separately, the next season of The Ultimate Fighter will feature former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping and former two-division champion Daniel Cormier as opposing coaches. Bisping, now 47, retired with a professional record of 30-9, while Cormier, also 47, finished his career at 22-3.
