Arman Tsarukyan stated he believes a fight with Islam Makhachev is unlikely as Islam will retire after a couple more bouts. Tsarukyan predicted he will take over the sport within a year and become the face of UFC once he captures the title. Dana White commented that he likes Tsarukyan's current activity level and said Arman just needs to stop acting like a 'maniac' to secure a title shot. The post also mentions White called Tsarukyan a 'tough bastard.' Additionally, Robert Whittaker denied rumors about fighting Magomed Ankalaev, and the post covers several other brief news items.
Arman Tsarukyan has made bold claims about his future in the sport, predicting he will become the face of the UFC within a year once he captures a title, while also casting doubt on the prospect of a rematch with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Tsarukyan stated that a fight with Makhachev is unlikely because he believes the champion will retire after just a couple more bouts. The Armenian-Russian contender nonetheless expressed confidence that he will seize the title and rise to the top of the sport in short order. UFC President Dana White weighed in on Tsarukyan's prospects, saying he appreciates his current activity level but suggested Tsarukyan needs to rein in his behavior — calling him a "maniac" — before a title shot becomes a reality. White also referred to Tsarukyan as a "tough bastard," signaling genuine respect for his abilities inside the cage.
Makhachev, 34, currently holds the welterweight title and carries a 28-1-0 record. The Russian southpaw lands strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most complete fighters in the sport today. He is also ranked pound-for-pound No. 1.
Elsewhere, middleweight contender Robert Whittaker moved to deny circulating rumors that he is set to face light heavyweight standout Magomed Ankalaev. Whittaker, 35, holds a 27-9-0 record and competes at middleweight, where he is currently ranked sixth. He averages an impressive 4.39 significant strikes per minute. Ankalaev, also 34, is the top-ranked light heavyweight contender at 21-2-1, standing six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach, and sits fifth in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's public timeline puts immediate pressure on the lightweight title picture
- Makhachev retirement talk, if credible, could reshape the entire 155-pound division
- Whittaker's denial closes the door on a cross-divisional matchup with Ankalaev for now
