Arman Tsarukyan has publicly outlined an ambitious set of future goals that extend well beyond his current UFC lightweight campaign. He stated plans to win three championship belts in the UFC, transition to professional boxing to fight the Paul brothers (Jake and Logan), and then "pull Floyd Mayweather out of his coffin" for a fight with the retired boxing legend. The tone of Tsarukyan's comments suggests a mix of genuine ambition and playful exaggeration, particularly regarding Mayweather. These statements reflect the broader trend of MMA fighters seeking crossover boxing opportunities. No timeline was provided for these goals.
Arman Tsarukyan has laid out a sweeping set of future ambitions that stretch far beyond the UFC lightweight division, declaring intentions to collect multiple championship belts, cross over into professional boxing, and face some of the sport's most high-profile names.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters this phase of his career as the top-ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, carrying a 23-3 record and representing Russia out of American Top Team. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, the orthodox striker has built his reputation on well-rounded output — landing 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy while also averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more complete threats in a stacked 155-pound division.
The Armenian-Russian fighter, known as "Ahalkalakets," stated that his UFC goals include winning three championship belts before pivoting to the boxing world. He singled out Jake and Logan Paul as targets for crossover bouts, and added a more tongue-in-cheek declaration that he intends to "pull Floyd Mayweather out of his coffin" for a fight with the retired legend. Tsarukyan's tone on the Mayweather comment leaned toward playful exaggeration, though his crossover ambitions appear genuine. No timeline was attached to any of the goals.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is ranked number one at lightweight, meaning his UFC championship pursuit is the most credible and immediate part of this plan
- A three-belt run would require campaigning across multiple weight classes, an extraordinary and rarely achieved feat
- The boxing crossover talk reflects a growing pattern of elite MMA fighters seeking high-visibility bouts outside the cage, a trend that has proven commercially viable in recent years
- The Mayweather reference, however lighthearted, signals the scale of the platform Tsarukyan believes he is building toward
