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the cold war between the UFC and Arman Tsarukyan (22-3) has reached its highest point. The company offered the Armenian fighter a fight against Mateusz Gamrot in June, which Arman has considered an insult. As the number one in the lightweight division, Tsarukyan's intention is to face someone who will allow him to have another title shot, but Dana White and his team do not seem to have forgiven him for what happened in January at UFC 311
Tsarukyan was set to face Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound belt in the main event of the first numbered card of the year, but a back injury a day before the fight forced the UFC to act quickly and pit the champion against Renato Moicano. This setback did not sit well with Dana White, who said after the event that Arman's next fight would not be for the title.
The UFC made me angry by offering me such an opponent. For me, it's disrespectful
Since then, the relationship between company and fighter has deteriorated to the point that he has been offered a fight against the number seven in the division. "I'm the number one ranked fighter, and they offer me to fight against a top 10? The UFC pissed me off by offering me such an opponent. For me, it's disrespectful," he told 'Sport24'. The only story this fight would have is the fact that it would be a rematch, as Gamrot defeated Arman after a controversial decision in 2022.
A goal in mind
Tsarukyan's plan is to wait and see what happens at UFC 317, where Ilia Topuria will fight for the lightweight belt against Islam Makhachev or Charles Oliveira. Arman wants to face someone who will get him closer to the belt, or even the loser of that fight on June 28, but the UFC has other plans in mind. "I'm number one. I'm not saying give me a title shot, but at least give me a fight with a real contender," he concluded.
I'm not saying give me a title shot, but at least give me a fight with a real contender
One of the names Tsarukyan dropped is Dan Hooker, as most of the top five fighters already have a fight scheduled. Holloway and Poirier will face each other at UFC 318, while Makhachev, Topuria and Oliveira are still waiting to see what happens this weekend in the welterweight division. The only one who would be free is Justin Gaethje, but Dana White is "repaying the favor" to Arman in the worst possible way.
The company has managed to get under Tsarukyan's skin to the point of publicly itting that he is angry, something that does not suit him. There are many past examples of fighters who wanted to declare a public war on the company, and this is the last thing Arman needs at the moment. The Armenian is surely the least media-savvy fighter in the top five, so he has everything to lose.