Arman Tsarukyan has cast doubt on Conor McGregor’s fighting future after the Irish star’s injury-shortened UFC comeback at UFC 329.
McGregor’s first UFC appearance in five years ended just 66 seconds into the fight in Vegas when he suffered a knee injury. Although McGregor has stated he plans to compete again, Tsarukyan questioned whether that is the right move.
“Conor, unfortunately he got [an] injury during the fight or maybe before the fight and he couldn’t perform very well,” Tsarukyan said, before adding, “I feel like Conor is done. He’s got to just focus on his business. He did a lot for this sport, for the UFC especially, and he’s like a GOAT in our sport. Because of him, a lot of people are watching the UFC.”
“He changed the game but time to leave. Or UFC got to give him easy fights, not like Holloway or someone,” Tsarukyan added, referencing potential matchmaking options such as Max Holloway.
While weighing in on McGregor, Tsarukyan is also pushing for his own next step. “UFC’s got to give me a fight,” he said. “That’s why I’m flying to Vegas and they have a date, I have a name, we’ve just go to confirm on Monday. I’m ready to rock ‘n’ roll. It’s going to be a good fight, exciting fight and the best place to fight for me.”
A top ranked UFC lightweight who has yet to fight for a title and was previously removed from a scheduled championship bout with then-champion Islam Makhachev, Tsarukyan has his sights set on Justin Gaethje’s belt. “I want to be a champion at 155 and I want to defend that belt as much as possible,” he said. “My goal is to be the best ever lightweight. I’m not looking to go up or down. I feel like I can be the best, I just don’t want to be a UFC champion. I want to be the best UFC champion in lightweight division ever.”
