Arman Tsarukyan shares his frustration with backup role for UFC White House main event

Most of the MMA community feels ‘Ahalkalakets’ should already be fighting for the title, rather than being named as the backup.

That might have been his path if not for a series of incidents last year. Tsarukyan first withdrew from a scheduled bout with Islam Makhachev, and later headbutted Dan Hooker ahead of their fight. Neither move helped his standing with Dana White.

Outside the Octagon, his behaviour hasn’t done him any favours either. Those issues contributed to why he ended up accepting the backup spot.

Still, Tsarukyan hasn’t hidden how he feels about it. He told Jaxxon Podcast on YouTube that he’s not exactly eager to train for a fight that might never happen.

“It’s confirmed but I haven’t signed a contract yet,” Tsarukyan said on Jaxxon Podcast’s YouTube channel.

“I’m excited that if something happens they’ll call me, I’m the first guy who is going to jump in and I’m getting ready for that. I’m already on my diet, but it always sucks to be backup, but now I have to do it,” he continued.

The 29-year-old is generally in good shape, but over the past year he has become known online for his food-related videos where he eats large amounts in one sitting.

Due to this habit, there’s a good chance he’s walking around heavier than usual right now, which could mean cutting more weight than usual if called upon at short notice.

If Arman does end up signing on officially as backup fighter and making weight as needed, regardless of whether or not they actually compete that night.