Arman Tsarukyan confirms UFC title fight against Islam Makhachev will happen in early 2025 after injury postponed clash
09/09/2024 10:39
Following his decision win over former champion Charles Oliveira earlier this year, it was confirmed that Arman Tsarukyan's next fight would be for a shiny gold-plated UFC title, but whether that's interim or undisputed remains to be seen.
The confident Armenian wrestler, who is currently riding an impressive four-fight winning streak, has now revealed that the UFC has told him behind closed doors that champion Islam Makhachev won't be ready to fight until at least early 2025.
Arman Tsarukyan confirms title fight vs Islam Makhachev will happen in 2025
Earlier this week, Islam Makhachev's coach Javier Mendez spoke with Islam Babadzhanov of Ushatayka about the expected timeline for the lightweight champion's return.
Unfortunately, the ligament tear that Makhachev suffered against Dustin Poirier is still causing issues with coach Mendez confirming that the lightweight king won't be able to return before the year of the year.
"He’s not training from what I know so I don’t foresee December happening. It could happen, but I don’t see it; January seems more likely, January [or] February [2025], but I don’t see December only because I know his hands still not healthy.”
The man expected to face Makhachev once the hand injury heals is 22-3 contender Arman Tsarukyan, who has just told Red Corner MMA that the UFC has also confirmed this timeline to his team.
"I knew that [the fight would happen next year], I was informed that this fight would not happen this year [and that] it will take place early next year.
"Yes, it's from the UFC but this is the nature of the sport: everything can change in a moment and that's why I am keeping myself in shape, I am in camp now."
Tsarukyan, who turns 28 years old next month, says that he doesn't care when or where the undisputed title fight takes place as long as he gets the chance to shine on the championship stage.
"I don't care when this fight happens – even if it does in a year, I will keep working and moving towards this fight… It's not about fighting Islam for me; it's about becoming the champion."
That mindset also includes the possibility of fighting for interim gold and glory.
Arman Tsarukyan on the possibility of fighting for an interim UFC lightweight title
Given that Makhachev is out of action for at least the next four months, there had been speculation that the UFC could opt to book an interim title fight with Tsarukyan against one of the five men below him in the rankings.
Interestingly, not only is Tsarukyan open to taking such a fight as he awaits Makhachev's recovery, but he also sees plenty of reasons why accepting an interim title bout could serve him well in the meantime.
"Any of the top five could fight for the interim title: Hooker, Chandler, Oliveira, Gaethje or Poirier, all of them can fight for an interim title – although they don't deserve it.
"Four of them are coming from a loss – only Hooker had a win, and Chandler I think, although Chandler's had his last victory over Tony Ferguson."
Explaining why he'd be willing to take such an enormous risk when an undisputed title shot has already been secured, Tsarukyan simply acknowledged that the end justifies the means.
"Becoming an interim champion, taking the belt, having a fight and making money, getting more fight experience, getting one step closer to the title fight, fighting a five-round fight… I'm 27, the more I fight, the more experience I get."
We'll have to see whether the promotion moves to make such an interim title fight for the November or December PPV cards; neither of which have been officially announced just yet.
