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Arman Tsarukyan sends confident world title prediction despite being snubbed for shot at gold

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Donagh Corby | Last updated Dec 24, 2025 7:06 PM ET

Arman Tsarukyan already views himself as the UFC champion, despite seemingly being nowhere near a shot at the title.

The Armenian is currently on a winning streak that has seen him maintain the number one spot in the lightweight rankings. But after pulling out of his fight with Islam Makhachev for the belt at UFC 311, he has been forced down the pecking order by Dana White.

This hasn’t dampened his spirit, as he signed up for not one, not two but three separate grappling matches after his win over Dan Hooker while he waits for the UFC to book him again. The first of those happened last week when he defeated Mehdi Baydulaev in Moscow.

Arman Tsarukyan declares himself UFC champion as title shot goes elsewhere

Arman Tsarukyan has taken to social media to tell fans that he feels it is a mere ‘formality’ that he will win the UFC lightweight title. The belt is currently held by Ilia Topuria, but due to personal issues he can’t imminently defend and an interim bout has been made.

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That fight will be between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in January, with Tsarukyan the division’s odd man out. Instead, he has booked in grappling matches with Shara Magomedov and Lance Palmer while he awaits a new date from the UFC.

Writing on social media, Tsarukyan said: “Number 1 next to my name for a reason. The belt is just a formality at this point.”

Dana White has told Arman Tsarukyan he won’t be fighting for a title soon

Unfortunately for Tsarukyan, he may have to wait a little while to make his dream a reality. The winner at UFC 324 will face Topuria later next year and Dana White doesn’t seem keen on pushing the Armenian any time soon.

“I wouldn’t say he’s the odd man out,” the UFC boss told media after UFC 323. “You know, he had an opportunity, and you guys know how that played out. I don’t give a s— what the number says, he’s going to have to work his way back.

“Just too much goes into this for those types of things to happen. You can’t do that. You can’t get the opportunity and then… It can’t end that way. So, he’s got to work his way back.”

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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