Arman Tsarukyan says his next UFC fight will take place in September or later in 2026. He wore a cowboy hat to his most recent fight as a friend suggested matching the Texas venue. On a potential Islam Makhachev versus Ilia Topuria bout at lightweight, Tsarukyan believes Topuria would move up if the UFC allows it, and that losing to Islam would be less damaging to Topuria's career than losing to him.
Arman Tsarukyan has indicated his return to the octagon is still months away, telling interviewers he expects his next UFC appearance to come in September 2026 or sometime later in the year.
Tsarukyan, 29, holds a 23-3 record and is the top-ranked lightweight contender. The Russian fighter out of American Top Team stands five-foot-seven with a notably long 72-inch reach and brings a well-rounded game to the division, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute alongside 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also offered a lighthearted note from his last outing, saying a friend suggested he wear a cowboy hat to match the Texas venue.
The lightweight division's broader picture also came up in the conversation. Islam Makhachev, 34, is the reigning champion at 28-1, now listed as competing at welterweight but holding gold at 155 pounds. The Dagestan native lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy and adds 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most complete fighters in the sport.
Ilia Topuria, nicknamed El Matador, sits at number two in the lightweight rankings with a 17-1 record. The 29-year-old Spaniard is the top pound-for-pound fighter in the database and brings ferocious output, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute. Tsarukyan weighed in on a possible Makhachev-Topuria lightweight clash, suggesting Topuria would make the move up to 155 if the UFC sanctions it. He also argued that a loss to Makhachev would do less damage to Topuria's reputation than a loss to Tsarukyan himself would.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's timeline pushes any lightweight title picture clarity to at least the back half of 2026
- A Makhachev-Topuria matchup at lightweight would bypass the division's top-ranked contender, raising obvious questions about Tsarukyan's path forward
- The style matchup between Topuria's high-volume striking and Makhachev's grappling-heavy approach would be one of the most anticipated in recent memory
