Dana White stated he likes Arman Tsarukyan's current activity level and said the Armenian fighter just needs to stop acting like a "maniac" to secure his title shot. Tsarukyan himself commented that a fight with Islam Makhachev is unlikely, predicting Makhachev will retire after a couple more fights. Tsarukyan expressed confidence he will take over the sport within a year and become the face of the UFC once he captures the title. The post also mentions Robert Whittaker denied rumors about fighting Magomed Ankalaev, and Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier will coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Dana White has weighed in on Arman Tsarukyan's path to a lightweight title shot, saying the Armenian contender simply needs to keep his nose clean and stop behaving like a "maniac" to get his opportunity.
White indicated he approves of Tsarukyan's recent activity level and implied the fighter is close to earning a crack at the belt. Tsarukyan, for his part, added his own twist to the picture, suggesting a matchup with current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is unlikely in the near term because he expects Makhachev to retire after only a couple more fights. Tsarukyan went further, expressing confidence that he will capture the title within a year and become the face of the UFC.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and carries the top pound-for-pound ranking in the sport. The Russian southpaw fights out of Eagles MMA and has built his dominance on a combination of elite wrestling, landing 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, and sharp striking at 58 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's conduct off the mat has previously drawn scrutiny, making White's "maniac" comment a notable public condition attached to a title shot.
- Makhachev's pound-for-pound status means the lightweight throne is among the most coveted in the sport, and any clear No. 1 contender designation carries significant weight.
- Tsarukyan's prediction that Makhachev will retire soon adds an unusual dimension to the title picture, potentially signaling the contender sees a vacancy rather than a direct conquest.
Elsewhere in the same news cycle, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker pushed back on rumors linking him to a fight with Magomed Ankalaev, the 34-year-old Russian ranked first in the light heavyweight division with a 21-2-1 record and a 52 percent striking accuracy. Separately, Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier are set to coach the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. Bisping, 47, holds a 30-9-0 professional record and remains one of the most recognizable figures in UFC history.
