Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Arman Tsarukyan opens up about the two fights UFC offered him after short-notice withdrawal from UFC 311

Originally posted on HITC | By Kyle Dimond | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 11:53 AM ET

Arman Tsarukyan is back in the discussion for a title shot, despite setbacks that have kept him out of the cage for nearly 18 months.

Tsarukyan originally earned his shot as the backup when Islam Makhachev was pulled from his title defence against Ilia Topuria to be used in the same role for Makhachev’s upset loss to Paddy Pimblett.

With Topuria vs. Pimblett set to headline UFC 365 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, attention has returned to the 2x Performance of the Night winner – especially after Daiju Takedano beat Rafael dos Anjos to the line in Japan’s Road to UFC series.

Here’s everything Tsarukyan is saying on the reasons behind missed fights, talk of a weight mismatch, and where he still expects to land with the belt in the balance.

Arman Tsarukyan reveals offers to fight Justin Gaethje and Mateusz Gamrot

Tsarukyan appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show this week and discussed whether he stalled his own title shot by withdrawing from UFC 311 on short notice. In his view, the promotion weren’t annoyed – otherwise, they wouldn’t have offered him good fights since then.

He was one of the fighters in consideration to replace Dan Hooker against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313, but he claims Gaethje chose Rafael Fiziev under those circumstances.

“It was nine or eight days before and I was 186 or 187. I said, ‘Yeah I’ll fight. I’ll save the fight but I need a catchweight. Gaethje didn’t want to fight me. He picked Fiziev,” he said. “Yeah that’s why.”

Tsarukyan was also offered a rematch with Mateusz Gamrot for the event in Abu Dhabi, but since they both train at American Top Team, he turned down that possibility.

“We are from one gym and we train on the same mats. That’s why I said can you give me someone different because I don’t need that drama again. It’s so difficult to have your training camp when you’re fighting with a guy from the same gym.”

Arman Tsarukyan rubbishes moving up to welterweight

Weight is still part of the discussion for Tsarukyan because it shapes his path to a title fight – he’s not moving up and wasn’t offered a move down.

When Helwani asked if he’d ever go up to 170-pounds, Tsarukyan reinforced a statement he’s made before: “Hell no. I would rather go to 145 before I would fight at 170.”

The 28-year-old also took aim at the idea that he continues to miss opportunities because of weight management – a label that he feels was never earned.

“I mean bro, Dana just said that s*** once. I always make the weight”, the Armenian said.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: