UFC lightweight number one contender Arman Tsarukyan continues to wait in the wings for a possible title shot, following Islam Makhachev’s third title defense this past weekend.
Current UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, defended his title for the third time this past weekend at UFC 302, defeating Dustin Poirier and equalling the record for the most amount of 155lb title defenses.
Following the incredible fight, the Russian champion stated his dream is to fight for a second belt, admitting that he is eyeing a possible move up to welterweight for his next fight.
Despite that, the 32-year-old champion explained in the post-fight press conference, that if UFC CEO, Dana White, wants him to fight Arman Tsarukyan next, he will.
Chael Sonnen warns that Arman Tsarukyan could miss out on title shot
In a recent interview with Ushatayka, Makhachev admitted that he would be more interested in a fight against Conor McGregor next instead of Tsarukyan, for obvious reasons.
McGregor is scheduled to return at UFC 303 to fight Michael Chandler at 170lbs, despite the recent controversy surrounding the status of that fight.
Although Makhachev is seemingly willing to rematch ‘Ahalkalakets’ next, UFC legend, Chael Sonnen, has warned that Tsarukyan is in a ‘vulnerable’ position of missing out on his title shot, despite being ranked number one.
Tsarukyan was offered a title shot against Makhachev for UFC 302, but following his win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 this past April, he turned it down as he wanted longer to prepare for the bout.
“Somebody in that spot would be very vulnerable to have that spot taken,” Sonnen claimed in his recent YouTube video.
“Tsarukyan was offered Islam, the very fight that Dustin Poirier just did, was offered to Tsarukyan. I was surprised he said no, it’s not a good idea historically speaking in the UFC and this is a 99%, it’s not a good idea to turn down fights,” Sonnen added.
Sonnen believes that if a fellow top-ranked 155lber called out Makhachev by bringing up the fact Tsarukyan had already turned down the fight, then they would automatically put themselves into the title conversation.
“There’s not a 155lber out there who has called out Islam for one but has gone after Arman’s spot for two, I mean what a vulnerable position that is, by using the facts, by using the truth, by bringing up the fact (Tsarukyan) turned it down, it’s one of these things.” Chael continued.
Arman Tsarukyan claims Makhachev is a ‘very easy’ fight for him
The 27-year-old faced Makhachev in his UFC debut back in 2019 and lost a unanimous decision.
Despite having already lost to the 32-year-old before, ‘Ahalkalakets’ has claimed that Makhachev will be a ‘very easy’ fight for him if he performs like he did at UFC 302.
“(Islam Makhachev) got tired and he looked slow and I feel like Islam doesn’t have very good conditioning. (If I fought the same version of Makhachev) it would be a very easy fight for me,” Tsarukyan said on The MMA Hour.
Makhachev’s defense against Poirier was his first against a ranked lightweight, with his previous two coming against former featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski. Tsarukyan believes he must defend the title a few more times against ranked lightweights before he can move up.
Although the 27-year-old is confident he will beat Makhachev because of his cardio advantage, he will have to wait and see what the UFC decides to do with the Russian champion next.
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