Tsarukyan says he has a title fight next and would face Volkanovski for a belt

Arman Tsarukyan says his next UFC fight will be for a title, whoever the opponent is. His interview with Yavuz Saynomo was posted on Instagram on Sunday and reported by Sherdog on Monday. The UFC hasn't confirmed any of it.

"I have a title fight next," Tsarukyan said. "Either Justin Gaethje. If he is retired, someone else."

That someone could be Alexander Volkanovski. The featherweight champion told Ariel Helwani on Oct. 28 that if Gaethje retires, he would give up his belt and move up. "I'll vacate the featherweight belt and fight Arman for the title," he said, according to Heavy. An earlier Heavy report named Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett as options if Gaethje gives up the belt.

Sherdog reports that Tsarukyan's one condition for fighting Volkanovski is a UFC title. The quotes it prints stop short of refusing anything else. "For me, it doesn't matter who I'm gonna fight; I just want to fight for the title," he said. His coach, Marcos da Matta, told Sherdog of Gaethje and Volkanovski, "as long as it's a title fight, either one would be perfect."

Tsarukyan also answered Volkanovski's claim that he couldn't be held down. "He said Islam Makhachev cannot knock him out, too," he said. Makhachev did exactly that at UFC 294 in October 2023, finishing Volkanovski with a head kick and punches at 3:06 of round 1. Volkanovski took that fight on 11 days' notice and closed at +205 (31%).

Where the title shot stands

The title shot is Tsarukyan's own account. He told MMA Fighting's Mike Heck it was coming at the "beginning of next year," according to SB Nation on Oct. 22. He also told Helen Yee that the UFC would update him on Gaethje's plans, per NY Fights. "They told me they're going to let me know at the end of November," he said.

Gaethje, 37, hasn't announced a retirement. He addressed Tsarukyan on the Flagrant Podcast, MMA Sucka reported on Oct. 22. "If he's the next in line, if and when I defend this championship, that'll be who I'll fight," he said.

His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, said in September, "He didn't retire," and left open that the next challenger might be someone else, per MMA Sucka. Heavy reported on Oct. 28 that Gaethje still hadn't decided.

Da Matta says February or March is possible, and that if Gaethje defends, Tsarukyan is "the No. 1 who most deserves the title shot." The UFC's rankings put Topuria first and Tsarukyan second.

We found no comment from Dana White or the UFC on Tsarukyan against Volkanovski. Asked on Oct. 24 about Volkanovski challenging Gaethje, White said "there's not much we're going to say no to with him," per UFC.com. That was four days before the offer.

Tsarukyan has lost a title shot before. He pulled out of his UFC 311 rematch with Makhachev in January 2025, citing a back injury. White responded, "He's not getting a title shot," according to SI.

He's 24-3 and has won twice since. He submitted Dan Hooker, then knocked out Mauricio Ruffy in round 1 at UFC 331 on Sept. 19, closing at −315 (72%). That's six straight UFC wins, and he's 9-1 at the closing price in 10 priced UFC fights since 2021, all as the favourite. White said after UFC 331 that "you couldn't have had a better comeback," but he didn't confirm a title shot, per MMA Sucka.

We think Tsarukyan has the best claim at 155 right now. Topuria lost to Gaethje in June, when Gaethje closed at +350 (21%), and Volkanovski is 0-2 at lightweight. Volkanovski's case rests on his form at 145. He stopped unbeaten Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on Oct. 24, closing at −112 (50%), a coin flip.

What comes next

None of these title fights is booked, but one has been priced. BetOnline had Tsarukyan at −450 and Gaethje at +350 in September, per BoxingNews, citing MMA Mania. We found no odds for Tsarukyan against Volkanovski.

Tsarukyan's next two matches are wrestling, not MMA. He faces Neiman Gracie at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, per MMA Sucka. He then defends his RAF middleweight crossover title against Anthony Pettis in Chicago on Nov. 28, according to BoxingNews.