Outside Source
While Tsarukyan has long been the top lightweight contender, a title shot has evaded him so far. Tsarukyan will have to watch from the sidelines as Paddy Pimblett faces Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. The card also marks the beginning of UFC’s deal with Paramount.
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Tsarukyan claims the UFC told him that he is too unreliable to be put on the first Paramount card. Tsarukyan’s relationship with the UFC allegedly soured due to a series of events. Tsarukyan pulled out of a scheduled title challenge against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in 2025. Before that, Tsarukyan threw a punch at a fan during his walkout for his UFC 300 clash against Charles Oliveira in 2024. Tsarukyan was expected to mend things with his win over Dan Hooker in his most recent outing at UFC Qatar this past November. However, “Ahalkalakets” headbutted Hooker during the weigh-ins to worsen things. While Tsarukyan has no choice but to wait, he is confident that he will win UFC gold one day.
Patiently Waiting
“I am supposed to fight for the title,” Tsarukyan told streamer Adin Ross. “And then they said, ‘You’re too dangerous to put you on the first card on the Paramount, because of the headbutt, pullout, beat fan.’ That’s why they said ‘You’ve got to wait.’ And I said, ‘Okay, what I can do?’ I’ll just wait. I know my belt is gonna be mine.”
Tsarukyan (23-3) is 10-2 in the UFC, with his only losses coming against Islam Makhachev and Mateusz Gamrot. Tsarukyan is currently riding a five-fight winning streak with three finishes.
🤔🏆 Arman says UFC told him that he’s ‘too dangerous’ to be put on the first Paramount card:
“I am supposed to fight for the title. And then they said, “You’re too dangerous to push you on the first card on the paramount, because of the headbutt, pullout, punhced the fan,… pic.twitter.com/xB2o0XJju3
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) January 10, 2026
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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