When it comes to Justin Gaethje’s hopes to secure a third crack at the undisputed UFC lightweight title, Arman Tsarukyan has told him to hold his horses.
Gaethje placed his name back into the championship conversation at 155 pounds this past weekend by emerging victorious from the UFC 313 co-main event.
“The Highlight” ran it back with Rafael Fiziev at the pay-per-view after original opponent Dan Hooker withdrew due to a broken hand. And for the second time in under three years, the American exited the cage a decision winner over “Ataman.”
In the aftermath, Gaethje outlined his hopes to challenge Islam Makhachev down the line. That ambition received a sizable boost during Dana White’s post-fight press conference, with the UFC CEO suggesting the ex-interim champ has a “good chance” of another title shot.
During a recent interview with The Schmo, however, Tsarukyan insisted that “The Highlight” must go through either him or former titleholder Charles Oliveira first.
“It’s Gaethje or Oliveira,” Arman Tsarukyan said of his next opponent. “Gaethje wants to fight for the title. It makes sense to fight with me, because nobody’s going to give him (the) title fight. It’s not going to be fair that he’s going to get (the) title fight. So he’s got to beat me or Oliveira to get a title fight. There is Ilia (Topuria) too. … I’m open to everybody from (the) top five.”
Tsarukyan has been left needing to record another victory over a top contender despite entering the year with a first title shot bagged.
A late pullout from January’s UFC 311 event saw him lose out on the opportunity, leaving the next step for Makhachev uncertain after he dispatched of late-notice replacement Renato Moicano in Los Angeles.
