Arman Tsarukyan has declared his readiness to fight either Movsar Evloev or Alex Volkanovski for the featherweight title. When asked which matchup interested him more, Tsarukyan said: "I would be more interested in Volkanovski, he has many defenses, he is more media-friendly." The statement indicates Tsarukyan's willingness to move down to featherweight for a title opportunity. Volkanovski's status as a former multi-time champion appears to be the more attractive option for Tsarukyan. The post included a poll asking fans which fight they would prefer to see.
Arman Tsarukyan has made clear he is willing to drop to featherweight in pursuit of a title shot, naming both Movsar Evloev and Alex Volkanovski as potential opponents while expressing a preference for the latter.
Tsarukyan, 29, currently sits as the number-one ranked lightweight contender with a record of 23-3. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation on a well-rounded game — landing 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy while also averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. Moving to featherweight would represent a significant career pivot, but his frame makes the cut at least physically plausible.
The fighter he expressed the stronger interest in facing is Volkanovski, citing the Australian's multiple title defenses and higher media profile. Tsarukyan was direct: Volkanovski's name carries more weight, and that matters to him. However, Evloev stands as the current featherweight number-one contender and is the division's most immediate title challenger, making him an equally relevant target in the division.
Evloev, 32 and also Russian, is the perfect foil in terms of background — he and Tsarukyan share the same team, American Top Team, the same height and reach, and even the same orthodox stance. Evloev carries an undefeated record of 20-0, landing 3.91 significant strikes per minute and averaging an impressive 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more complete fighters in the featherweight division.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is ranked first at lightweight, meaning a featherweight move would be a rare dual-division title pursuit
- Evloev's undefeated record and top ranking put him next in line at 145 pounds regardless of Tsarukyan's interest
- A potential Tsarukyan-Volkanovski matchup would pit two elite wrestlers and strikers against each other across what would be a cross-division challenge
- The Tsarukyan-Evloev pairing carries the added intrigue of two undefeated-or-near teammates potentially colliding for a belt
