Bo Nickal and Arman Tsarukyan (Photo by Imagn)

Bo Nickal Drops Bold Take On Arman Tsarukyan’s Future After ‘Side Quest’ Comment

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Pavan Sharma | Last updated Mar 12, 2026 1:25 PM ET

Bo Nickal is not someone who throws endorsements around casually, which makes his public support for Arman Tsarukyan and his case for a title shot worth paying attention to. His take on Tsarukyan was layered in a way that went beyond a simple ranking argument. Nickal said Tsarukyan should fight the winner of Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje.

Nickal acknowledged the grappling matches, the RAF appearances, the general pattern of Tsarukyan showing up everywhere and competing constantly outside the UFC structure, and rather than framing it as a problem the way Dana White and Matt Brown have, he framed it as a personality trait rooted in genuine love for competition rather than financial necessity.

“He’s always doing side quests. RAF matches, grappling matches, he’s doing everything. I think he’s in a unique scenario where he comes from a lot of money, so he’s not fighting to try to make money. He’s doing it more out of love, but he definitely deserves that title shot. I’d like to see him fight the winner of Ilia and Gaethje,” Nickal said on the Pound-for-Pound podcast.

Bo Nickal says Arman Tsarukyan deserves a title shot and should face the winner of Ilia vs Justin Gaethje

“He’s always doing side quests. RAF matches, grappling matches, he’s doing everything.”

“I think he’s in a unique scenario where he comes from a lot of money, so he’s… pic.twitter.com/EXdCaKZlG6
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) March 12, 2026

Indeed, Nickal’s suggestion that Tsarukyan comes from a background comfortable enough that he is not fighting purely to secure his financial future reframes the side quests entirely. A fighter chasing every competitive opportunity available to him because he simply cannot stop competing reads differently than a fighter causing problems for a promotion trying to build around him.

Tsarukyan is ranked second in the lightweight division and has been knocking on that door long enough that the argument for him getting the next shot after Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje settle things at the White House card is almost self-evident on merit alone.

Arman Tsarukyan Slams Ilia Topuria Vs. Justin Gaethje Fight

Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan (Image Credit: Imagn Images)

Tsarukyan refuses to watch from the sidelines or pretend to stay neutral about it. His reaction to the Topuria vs. Gaethje title unification bout at the White House card was delivered with the kind of bluntness that has become his trademark in front of a microphone.

“No chance for Gaethje. Ilia is going to knock him out, they just waste my time. Put me against Ilia and I’ll take his belt. Easy money for me,” Tsarukyan said.

Meanwhile, Dana White has kept him at arm’s length from the title shot. Matt Brown called him his own worst enemy. The RAF 06 brawl gave the UFC another reason to look elsewhere. Now, whether the UFC is listening to the Armenian fighter after June 14 remains the only question that actually matters.

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

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