UFC: Arman Tsarukyan wants Justin Gaethje fight next

Arman Tsarukyan issued a challenge to Justin Gaethje on Thursday (AEDT), saying that the American needs to go through him first if he wants a title fight in the UFC lightweight division.

Tsarukyan was set to take on Islam Makhachev for the Russian’s belt at UFC 311 in January, but a late injury prevented the No.1 lightweight contender from fighting in Los Angeles.

With Renato Moicano stepping up instead, UFC CEO Dana White said after the event that the Armenian would need to work his way back into contention for the title.

Tsarukyan seems willing to do so, with the 28-year-old issuing a challenge to Gaethje on social media this week.

“If you really want to be the #1 contender and fight for the belt, you have to go through me first,” Tsarukyan tweeted in response to Gaethje’s claim that he is next in line for a title fight.

“You barely got past #11 on short notice, and before that, you got sent to the shadow realm.”

You barely got past #11 on short notice, and before that, you got sent to the shadow realm. If you really want to be the #1 contender and fight for the belt, you have to go through me first. https://t.co/tgXsNYVhy8

— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) March 12, 2025

Renowned UFC commentator Jon Anik disagrees with Tsarukyan, however, claiming Gaethje “absolutely should fight Islam Makhachev for the title”.

“I don’t know that he could’ve done more with this showcase,” he said.

“Sometimes decision wins could be better than finishes, and I think in this instance, had there been a quick knockout, I actually think this is more useful.

“Justin Gaethje is going to go in the Hall of Fame twice.

“It would seem to me, in a speculative way, that Ilia Topuria has the inside track to fight Islam Makhachev.

“I don’t know if it’s a case of you’ve got to strike while the iron is hot or if there isn’t an obvious No.1 contender because Arman Tsarukyan wasn’t able to make the walk.

“I wonder if Islam Makhachev is going to have any say in all of this, and I wonder if his history having defended his title twice against a featherweight in Alexander Volkanovski plays into this at all.

“Don’t you believe, right, that if Islam Makhachev is probed about this, he’s going to want to fight Justin Gaethje?”

Regardless of who steps into the octagon with Makhachev next, the division champ will be a heavy favourite across top bookmakers.

UFC betting sites had him as a -400 favourite against Tsarukyan before the fight was cancelled.

He was priced even shorter by Picklebet to beat last-minute replacement Moicano, returning -909.09 when he submitted the Brazilian in the first round.

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