Dana White stated he is pleased with Arman Tsarukyan's current activity level and believes the Armenian fighter is close to earning a title shot. White advised Tsarukyan to avoid behaving like a 'maniac' to secure his championship opportunity, while also calling him a 'tough bastard.' White's comments suggest Tsarukyan is in strong position for title contention but needs to maintain professionalism. The UFC president's remarks indicate organizational confidence in Tsarukyan's abilities and marketability. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan himself predicted Islam Makhachev will retire after a couple more fights and expressed confidence he will become the face of UFC within a year of capturing the title.
UFC president Dana White has publicly declared that lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is close to earning a title shot, while urging the Armenian fighter to stay composed and avoid acting like a "maniac" if he wants to secure that opportunity. White also praised Tsarukyan as a "tough bastard," signaling genuine organizational confidence in both his abilities and his marketability at 155 pounds.
Tsarukyan, known by the nickname "Ahalkalakets," carries a 23-3 record and currently sits at number one in the lightweight rankings at just 29 years old. Fighting out of American Top Team, the five-foot-seven orthodox striker is one of the division's most active and well-rounded threats, landing 3.85 significant strikes per minute while also averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. His combination of volume and wrestling makes him a legitimate handful for anyone in the division.
Standing across from him at the top of lightweight is champion Islam Makhachev, who holds a 28-1 record and is ranked pound-for-pound at the summit of the sport. The 34-year-old Russian, fighting out of Eagles MMA, is a technically precise southpaw who lands strikes at 58 percent accuracy and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes. Makhachev has been dominant since capturing gold, and there is no indication of a title vacancy on the horizon — though Tsarukyan himself predicted the champion will retire after a couple more fights, and expressed confidence he will become the face of the UFC within a year of winning the belt.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the division's top-ranked contender, making him the most logical next challenger for Makhachev's lightweight title.
- White's public endorsement adds organizational weight to Tsarukyan's title push, but the comments about professionalism suggest behavior remains a factor in the timing.
- A matchup between two fighters with nearly identical takedown rates would create a compelling wrestling and striking chess match at 155 pounds.
