Dana White commented that he likes Arman Tsarukyan's current activity level and that the fighter simply needs to avoid acting like a 'maniac' to secure a title shot. White also described Tsarukyan as a 'tough bastard' in his assessment. The comments suggest Tsarukyan is close to earning a championship opportunity but needs to maintain professionalism. Separately, the post mentions that Tsarukyan himself stated he believes Islam Makhachev will retire after a couple more fights and that Tsarukyan plans to become the face of UFC within a year. The post also notes Robert Whittaker denied rumors of fighting Magomed Ankalaev, and Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier will coach the next season of TUF.
UFC president Dana White offered a candid assessment of lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan this week, saying he approves of the Armenian fighter's recent activity inside the octagon but wants him to keep his behavior in check if he wants a shot at the lightweight title. White called Tsarukyan a "tough bastard" while noting that the fighter simply needs to stop acting like a "maniac" to earn that championship opportunity.
Tsarukyan has separately made headlines with bold predictions of his own, stating that he believes lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will retire after a couple more fights and that he himself plans to become the face of the UFC within a year. Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and carries the number-one pound-for-pound ranking. The Russian southpaw is a dominant all-around fighter, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate.
In other news reported alongside White's comments, light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev denied rumors linking him to a fight with Robert Whittaker. Ankalaev, 34, carries a 21-2-1 record and sits first in the light heavyweight rankings and fifth pound-for-pound. The six-foot-three Russian fighter out of Gorets Fight Club lands significant strikes at a 52 percent clip and averages 3.65 significant strikes per minute.
On the broadcasting side, former middleweight champion Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier are set to coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Bisping, 47, compiled a 30-9-0 professional record across his career and is known for his high output, having averaged 4.33 significant strikes per minute during his fighting days.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's title shot timeline now appears tied as much to his conduct as to his performance
- Makhachev's long-term plans at lightweight could reshape the division's contender picture sooner than expected
- Ankalaev distancing himself from a Whittaker matchup leaves the light heavyweight top-five picture unsettled
