Arman Tsarukyan Says UFC Promised Him the Lightweight Title Shot

Arman Tsarukyan says his next fight will be for the UFC lightweight championship.

The No. 1 ranked lightweight contender told MMA Sucka that UFC brass were pleased with his dominant performance at UFC 331, where he finished Mauricio Ruffy by knockout. Tsarukyan says the promotion followed up the next week, and the two sides agreed: his next walk to the octagon will be for the belt.

Tsarukyan is targeting early next year for the title fight, with MMA Mania reporting the timeline as "February or March" per Tsarukyan's own words. A specific date and location have not been announced.

The biggest question mark is the man on the other side. Champion Justin Gaethje has been out of action since winning the lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250, where he defeated Ilia Topuria in a fight that left both men battered. Gaethje has taken the rest of the year off to focus on his health after absorbing significant punishment in that bout.

Tsarukyan is not convinced Gaethje will return. He suggested the champion might retire entirely, or might negotiate a large payout to take the fight. Either way, Tsarukyan believes the UFC will make it worth Gaethje's while to step back into the cage.

Tsarukyan has been the division's most active top contender, but past incidents have kept him from getting the shot sooner. Those include punching a fan at UFC 300, headbutting Dan Hooker in 2025, and pulling out of the UFC 311 title fight due to a hernia. He appears to have finally cleared those hurdles with his emphatic finish of Ruffy.

The lightweight title picture has additional complications. Alexander Volkanovski has proposed a super fight with Gaethje for the 155-pound belt, and Dana White is reportedly open to the idea. Whether the UFC honors its agreement with Tsarukyan or pivots to a bigger-name matchup will be one of the defining storylines heading into 2027.