Dana White commented that he is impressed with Arman Tsarukyan's current activity level and stated that Tsarukyan only needs to avoid behaving like a "maniac" to secure a title shot. White also called him a "cool bastard," indicating respect for the fighter. Tsarukyan himself stated he believes Islam Makhachev will retire after a couple more fights and that he plans to capture the title and become the face of UFC within a year. The post also mentions that Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier will be coaches on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Additionally, it notes Paulo Costa said he loves fighting Russians because they are tough like Brazilians, and mentions unusual behavior from Josh Hockett.
Dana White has publicly endorsed Arman Tsarukyan as a legitimate lightweight title contender, telling media that the Armenian fighter only needs to keep his behavior in check to earn a shot at the belt. White described Tsarukyan as a "cool bastard" and praised his current activity level, stopping short of naming a timeline for a championship opportunity.
Tsarukyan himself is clearly confident about his future in the division. The lightweight contender stated his belief that current champion Islam Makhachev will retire after a couple more fights, and declared his intention to capture the title and establish himself as the face of the UFC within the next year.
Makhachev holds a record of 28-1-0 and is the reigning welterweight champion, ranked pound-for-pound at the top of the sport. The 34-year-old Russian trains out of Eagles MMA and is one of the most complete fighters in the game, landing 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempting 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 58 percent.
Why it matters
- A title shot for Tsarukyan would set up a rematch with Makhachev, adding a layered rivalry to the lightweight division
- White's comments signal the promotion views Tsarukyan as next in line, pending continued professionalism
- Makhachev's dominant grappling output makes the stylistic matchup a significant challenge for any contender
Separately, former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier were confirmed as coaches for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. Bisping, 47, carries a professional record of 30-9-0 and brings considerable experience to the coaching role.
Paulo Costa also weighed in on his approach to competition, noting he enjoys facing Russian fighters because of their toughness, which he compared to Brazilian fighters. The 35-year-old middleweight holds a record of 16-4-0 and is ranked thirteenth in his division, averaging an eye-catching 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute throughout his career.
