Arman Tsarukyan says his next move is a UFC title fight, and he believes it could come against a familiar rival.
Currently ranked No. 2 in the lightweight division, Tsarukyan stated that his next fight is a championship bout and pointed to a likely date and location. "My next fight is the title fight, which is probably in September in L.A.," Tsarukyan said.
Before that, Tsarukyan will be on standby for the lightweight title picture. Justin Gaethje, the interim lightweight champion, is set to unify his belt with Ilia Topuria in the UFC Freedom 250 main event on June 14 from the White House, and Tsarukyan will serve as the official backup for that fight. "But I'm a backup for the White House, too, if someone pulls out or gets hurt. ... I may fight him (Oliveira) again," he said.
Tsarukyan is riding a five-fight winning streak, with recent victories over Charles Oliveira and Dan Hooker, and he most recently won a grappling match against Keelon Jimison at RAF 9. He defeated Oliveira by split decision at UFC 300, while Oliveira has since gone 3-1 and captured the BMF title by defeating Max Holloway on the ground at UFC 326.
