Arman Tsarukyan and Alexander Volkanovski (Photo by Imagn)

Alexander Volkanovski Doubts UFC Will Give Arman Tsarukyan An Immediate Featherweight Title Shot

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Pavan Sharma | Last updated Jan 31, 2026 3:11 AM ET

After getting frustrated with repeated snubs for the lightweight title, Arman Tsarukyan has been eyeing a drop down to the featherweight division. After the news spread, champion Alexander Volkanovski openly welcomed him. Meanwhile, Volk doesn’t think Tsarukyan would get a straight title shot if he moved to featherweight, despite his lightweight credentials.

Volk acknowledged that having someone like Tsarukyan would be incredible for the already stacked division. Additionally, Volk doubts the Armenian gets to jump straight to the front of the line. The featherweight division has clear contenders who’ve earned their spots. Letting a lightweight cut down and immediately get a title shot would be unfair for fighters like Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy.

He said, “It’d be good to have a guy like him. Obviously, we’ve got a stacked division. To have someone like Arman in it would be incredible. Whether he can make the cut, I’m not sure. I mean, he’s not too big—maybe he could. But yeah…whether he gets to come in and jump straight to the front of the line, I don’t know about that. I think it’s going to be clear who’s next.”

Tsarukyan moving to featherweight seems more like desperation to find a title shot anywhere rather than strategic career planning. He’s earned the lightweight opportunity multiple times but keeps getting passed over. Meanwhile, Volk isn’t sure if Tsarukyan can make 145 pounds.

Arman Tsarukyan Feels He Can Make The 145-Pound Division

Arman Tsarukyan (Image Credits: Imagn)

Tsarukyan said he’ll ask the UFC to let him drop to featherweight and fight for the 145-pound title. His plan involves staying at featherweight for a couple years if he wins the belt, then moving back up to lightweight. As per Tsarukyan, his team did the math and his body can make 145 pounds.

He said, “I’ll ask them to let me go down [for the title at 145]. I want to be a champion. If I’m the 145 champion, I could stay there a couple of years and then go up. I’m going to try to get the title at 145. We did the math and my body can make 145.”

Arman Tsarukyan says he’s open to dropping to featherweight and chasing the 145 title if fights with Justin Gaethje or Ilia Topuria don’t materialise next l

“I’m going to try to get the title at 145. We did the math and my body can make 145.”

Via @arielhelwani pic.twitter.com/hrR1mxDnSc
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) January 27, 2026

If Tsarukyan moves down and dominates, it proves he’s elite regardless of division. But if the cut weakens him and he loses, it damages his stock across both weight classes.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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