Outside Source
Despite being the top lightweight contender, Tsarukyan has been left hanging while at the peak of his career. Tsarukyan recently watched from the sideline as Justin Gaethje won the interim title against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 last weekend in Las Vegas.
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Gaethje is now expected to unify the title against champion Ilia Topuria, who is expected to return to action this summer. Frustrated with repeated title snubs at lightweight, Tsarukyan is considering moving down to featherweight to chase a UFC title. Tsarukyan has already spoken to his strength and conditioning coach, Sam Calavitta, who told him that it’s possible. However, Calavitta also warned Tsarukyan that it won’t be an easy weight cut. Tsarukyan believes he can make the featherweight limit of 145 pounds if given three weeks, considering he walks around at 175 pounds.
‘I’m Not Getting Anybody’
“I’m not getting Gaethje, I’m not getting anybody,” Tsarukyan said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I’m going to try to get the title at 145 [pounds]… I talked to coach Cal, we did the math and everything, so my body can go to 145. He’s saying it’s not easy, but we can make it happen… If we know two to three weeks before that we’re fighting at 145, we can make it happen. Because I walk around not big, 177-175. If I start eating clean and do more cardio, I’m gonna be 165-166. And then from there I can go down.”
Tsarukyan (23-3) primarily irked the UFC by pulling out of a scheduled title fight against Islam Makhachev last year. “Ahalkalakets” also previously got into trouble for punching a fan while walking out for his UFC 300 clash against Charles Oliveira in 2024. While Tsarukyan recently hoped to secure a title shot with a submission win over Dan Hooker, he likely disappointed the UFC brass yet again by headbutting Hooker at the weigh-ins.
Meanwhile, Alexander Volkanovski will look to defend his featherweight title in a rematch against Diego Lopes at UFC 325 on Saturday in Sydney, Australia.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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