Dana White Places Arman Tsarukyan Among UFC's Top-5 Biggest Stars

Dana White has publicly identified Arman Tsarukyan as one of the five biggest stars in the UFC, placing the lightweight contender alongside a group that includes some of the promotion's most recognizable names.

White's list also features heavyweight champion Jon Jones, bantamweight standout Sean O'Malley, Georgian contender Merab Dvalishvili, and lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. White also highlighted Paddy Pimblett, citing his rapid social media growth and ability to draw crowds. In the same remarks, White praised media personality Nina Drama for her role in elevating Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili, and middleweight champion Sean Strickland, calling the fighters smart for nurturing that relationship.

Jones, 38, carries a 28-1-0 record and remains one of the most accomplished fighters in MMA history. The six-foot-four heavyweight lands 4.38 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, while also averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Makhachev, 34, holds a matching 28-1-0 record and currently sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian southpaw is the reigning lightweight champion and among the sport's most dominant grapplers, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Strickland, 35, is the reigning middleweight champion with a 31-7-0 record. The Xtreme Couture product is one of the UFC's highest-volume strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and has built a large following through his unfiltered public persona.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan's inclusion signals growing mainstream recognition for the lightweight contender beyond his in-cage performances
• White's acknowledgment of Nina Drama's influence points to social media strategy becoming an increasingly valued asset for fighter visibility
• With Makhachev and Jones already on the list, the lightweight and heavyweight divisions are positioned as the UFC's marquee draws heading into the second half of 2026