Arman Tsarukyan has been tapped as the backup fighter for the UFC lightweight title unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.
The championship clash is slated to headline UFC Freedom Fights 250 at the White House on June 14, with Tsarukyan on standby in case either fighter is unable to compete. Tsarukyan said the backup role is set, but not yet finalized on paper. "It's confirmed, but I haven't signed contract yet," he said.
Tsarukyan, described as the No. 1 contender at 155 pounds, is already dialing in his preparation for the possibility of facing either Topuria or Gaethje. "I'm excited; if something happens, they call me," Tsarukyan said. "I'm the first guy, who's going to jump in, and I'm getting ready for that. I'm already on my diet. It always sucks to be backup, but I have to do this, you know?"
Having previously served as backup for a vacant lightweight title fight between Topuria and Charles Oliveira last June, Tsarukyan is again tailoring his camp to the striking-focused styles he expects. "They're pretty same, they don't wrestle, right?" he said. "They strike, right? If one guy was a wrestler and one guy was a striker, yeah, you have to bring two sparring partners – one striker, one wrestler. I just need a striker because they're not going to shoot and try to take you down."
