Outside Source
Despite being widely considered the most deserving lightweight contender, Tsarukyan has yet to get a title shot. However, Tsarukyan hasn’t been vocally critical of the UFC despite the title snub.
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Cormier believes Tsarukyan knows something that is keeping him quiet. Cormier believes “Ahalkalakets” would have been more vocal if not for the conversation behind closed doors. “DC” suggests that fans make their peace with the situation, as Tsarukyan has seemingly done the same.
Quiet Acceptance
“I don’t know why Arman is not fighting for the title,” Cormier told Red Corner MMA. “I’ve heard the reason because of what happened in Los Angeles. I thought by weighing in as the backup fighter when Ilia fought Charles and by going and fighting Dan Hooker it would be OK. I don’t know what conversations they are having behind closed doors because they’re telling him something that’s making him OK with it. Because if he wasn’t OK with it he would be more loud about him not getting his opportunity. So I kid of defer to – they know more than we do. And so we’ve got to accept it for what it is because it seems like Arman is doing that too.”
Tsarukyan (23-3) was set to challenge Islam Makhachev for the title at UFC 311 in Los Angeles last year. However, Tsarukyan pulled out of the fight due to an injury, much to Dana White’s chagrin. White kept his promise of keeping Tsarukyan sidelined from the title picture when Makhachev vacated the belt and moved up to welterweight.
Tsarukyan weighed in as the backup when former featherweight champ Ilia Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to win the vacant title at UFC 317. Like Cormier, most thought that a title shot would be undeniable for Tsarukyan after he finished Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar this past November. However, things changed when Topuria announced a short hiatus from the sport due to personal issues. Tsarukyan stands sidelined yet again as Paddy Pimblett will fight Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. White says Tsarukyan knows what’s going on and that he has to earn his way back to a title shot.
Daniel Cormier claims Arman Tsarukyan knows something and that’s why he isn’t loud about his title opportunity 👀😲
“I don’t know why Arman is not fighting for the title. I’ve heard the reason because of what happened in Los Angeles. I thought by weighing in as the backup… pic.twitter.com/AVR8yaLaNp
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) January 6, 2026
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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