Arman Tsarukyan confirmed he will fight again in September or later this year. Tsarukyan wore a cowboy hat to his fight in Texas, explaining it was a friend's idea to match the location. Regarding a potential Islam Makhachev versus Ilia Topuria matchup at lightweight, Tsarukyan said he prefers Topuria fight Islam first and then face him, reasoning that Topuria losing to Islam at a higher weight class would be less damaging than losing to him at lightweight.
Arman Tsarukyan has confirmed he expects to return to the octagon in September or later in 2026, with the lightweight contender also weighing in on the crowded title picture at the top of his division.
Tsarukyan, 29, holds a 23-3 record and sits at number one in the lightweight rankings, making him the most immediate challenger in the division. The Russia-born American Top Team product stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and brings a well-rounded threat to any opponent, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute alongside 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes at 50 percent striking accuracy. In a lighter moment, he also addressed his choice of headwear at his most recent fight in Texas, noting that a friend suggested the cowboy hat as a nod to the location.
On the subject of the lightweight title picture, Tsarukyan expressed a clear preference for how he wants things to play out. He wants Islam Makhachev to fight Ilia Topuria first, reasoning that if Topuria loses to Makhachev at a higher weight class, the defeat would be less damaging to Topuria's standing than a loss to Tsarukyan at lightweight.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the number-one ranked lightweight, so any title fight conversation directly involves him
- Makhachev, 34, is the reigning welterweight champion with a 28-1 record and the top pound-for-pound fighter; Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and first pound-for-pound at 17-1, has been linked to a potential super-fight between the two
- A Makhachev versus Topuria bout would likely delay Tsarukyan's own title shot, giving his comments a strategic dimension beyond simple preference
- The style contrast between Topuria's high-volume striking — 4.81 significant strikes per minute — and Tsarukyan's grappling-heavy approach makes any eventual matchup between them a compelling divisional question
