Arman Tsarukyan plans to double Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC title defense tally as champion

Arman Tsarukyan is envisioning record-breaking dominance once he reaches the UFC’s lightweight throne.

The top contender is yet to compete with gold on the line in the UFC, having pulled out of his title shot against Islam Makhachev early last year.

Since then, Tsarukyan has remained in the promotion’s doghouse due to that withdrawal and some other incidents. But the Armenian has not lost sight of his goal: a title reign that puts him at the top of the all-time lightweight mountain.

Arman Tsarukyan could target 6 title defenses as UFC lightweight champion

Tsarukyan missed out on the chance to get revenge on Makhachev inside the cage before the Dagestani moved up to welterweight. Now, ‘Ahalkalakets’ is planning to get one over on the ex-lightweight champ and his mentor in a different way.

Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in 2020 after three successful defenses of the UFC’s 155-pound title. Makhachev surpassed his friend and coach by reaching four defenses before successfully pursuing two-division glory.

After he has the title wrapped around his waist, Tsarukyan is looking to eclipse the tallies of both men.

“I like to be the best,” Tsarukyan said on the JAXXON Podcast.

“When they signed me to the UFC, I wanted to be the UFC champion. It doesn’t matter how much they pay. I just want to be champion.

“I can defend as much as possible. Islam defended four times, so I want to defend five, six times,” he added.

“155 (pounds), I feel like it’s my division and my time will come.”