Arman Tsarukyan says he does not have an official next UFC opponent locked in, despite a wave of speculation following his latest YouTube video.
Tsarukyan released a YouTube video about his time in New York on May 31, 2026, where he said, "My next fight is the title fight, which is probably in September in L.A. But I’m a backup for the White House, too, if someone pulls out or gets hurt," and pointed at Charles Oliveira while adding, "I may fight him again." That led to reports he was set to face Oliveira next.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Tsarukyan pushed back on that narrative. "Today on my YouTube, I said I might fight in September, and people immediately started posting that I’m officially fighting Oliveira," he said. "No [I’m not fighting him]. Nothing is official. I didn’t say 100 percent I’m fighting; I said I might fight him. It could happen. My next fight could be in September, October or December; you never know. Maybe next year. Who knows what UFC wants to do or who I’ll be fighting next?"
Tsarukyan added that, "I’m fighting the winner of Topuria vs. Gaethje," explaining, "If it’s Topuria, then probably at the end of the year, and if it’s Gaethje, it’ll be September or maybe October."
In the meantime, Tsarukyan is serving as the backup fighter for the upcoming UFC White House card, and is scheduled for two Real American Freestyle wrestling matches: Tony Ferguson on June 13 and Colby Covington at RAF 11 one month later.
