Despite being ranked No.1, Tsarukyan says the UFC will hand Topuria a title shot against Makhachev due to prior promises made during his weight move.
Tsarukyan expects Makhachev v Topuria over own title shot
Top-ranked UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan believes he’ll be leapfrogged in the title queue by Ilia Topuria, with the newly vacated featherweight champ tipped to land a blockbuster shot at Islam Makhachev’s 155-pound crown.
Tsarukyan, who currently sits atop the UFC’s lightweight rankings and holds the No.15 spot in the men’s pound-for-pound list, was originally scheduled to face Makhachev for the title earlier this year.
But the 28-year-old was forced out just one day before the event due to a back injury and is yet to be rebooked.
In a recent interview, Tsarukyan admitted that he believes the UFC is more likely to give Topuria a fast-tracked title shot, despite the Georgian-Spaniard only just vacating his featherweight belt.
“I think [Topuria] got to fight for the belt for sure,” Tsarukyan said. “He left 145 because they said OK, we’re going to give you title fight.”
Topuria, who became a breakout star following his demolition of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, has teased a move to lightweight in recent months. Tsarukyan expects that the UFC’s commercial interests will take priority over the current rankings.
Tsarukyan went on to say that his best hope of a title shot would be if Makhachev opts to move up to welterweight — a decision that may hinge on the result of UFC 315’s title bout between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena.
“If Islam is going to move to 170, yeah they’ve got to give me the interim title with somebody,” Tsarukyan said.
“Right now because it’s a dangerous fight and I don’t have a title.
“Everybody wants to fight for the title and when the title fight is booked then I’m going to get the fight.”
Makhachev has long been linked to a potential move to welterweight and has voiced interest in becoming a two-division champion.
Should Muhammad retain — he’s the short-priced favorite at most UFC betting sites — it could slow that plan. But a shock win from Maddalena, who’s +200 at Nags.bet, might open the door for Makhachev to step up.
For now, Tsarukyan remains in limbo, a dangerous top contender without a clear title path — and watching closely as the UFC’s lightweight and welterweight dominoes start to fall.
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