Arman Tsarukyan vs. Max Holloway for #1 Contender? Who Disagrees?

[Preston broadus]

Give it to arman and put it on the 312 card.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Alright Sherbros, hear me out on this one.

Arman Tsarukyan is on a solid run and looking every bit like a future lightweight champion. With the recent shake-ups in the lightweight division, it seems like the perfect time to give him a true high-stakes fight to see if he’s ready for the next level. Enter Max Holloway.

Max’s Last Lightweight Showing
Let’s not forget the last time Max fought at 155 – he knocked out Justin Gaethje in one of the most spectacular finishes we’ve seen in the division. (Hypothetical example if true). Max’s pace, cardio, and striking are elite, and it’s clear he can hang with the best at lightweight.

Pairing Max with Tsarukyan makes sense because it’s a win-win. Max proves whether he’s ready to make another run at 155, and Tsarukyan gets the perfect platform to prove he belongs at the very top.

Islam Needs a Clear Challenger
With Islam Makhachev reigning supreme, the lightweight division needs a fresh contender. A Tsarukyan vs. Holloway fight would be a guaranteed war, and the winner would have undeniable momentum heading into a title fight with Islam. Arman already gave Islam a tough fight in their first encounter, and a rematch after a win over someone like Max would be highly anticipated.

On the flip side, imagine the hype if Max beats Arman. Max vs. Islam would be an incredible storyline, especially with Max being one of the best featherweights of all time looking to solidify his legacy at lightweight.

Why This Makes Sense
1. Max’s Legacy: Max has already done everything there is to do at featherweight. Moving up and taking on someone like Arman is the perfect challenge to reignite his career.
2. Arman’s Opportunity: Tsarukyan deserves a high-profile fight, and Max is the ideal opponent to test his readiness for a title shot.
3. Fan-Friendly Matchup: This fight is fireworks on paper. Striking, grappling, cardio – it’s got all the ingredients for a fight of the year candidate.

Final Thoughts
The UFC lightweight division is stacked, but a clear #1 contender fight is needed to bring clarity. Tsarukyan vs. Holloway is the perfect matchup to give us that clarity.

Who here disagrees with this matchup? If you’ve got a better idea, let’s hear it, but this feels like the fight to make. Winner gets Islam – plain and simple.

Let’s hear your takes!

I love the fight however...

Islam needs to fight LWs not FWs. Since FWs shouldn't be fighting for LW titles I don't believe FWs should be put into LW title eliminators.
Ilia doesn't deserve a title shot at LW so not sure how Max should get one for losing to him. Let's not forget Max is 1-1 as a LW.

I don't think Arman should fight anyone else he should fight Islam. If he has to fight to determine next for Islam then a rematch with Charles works.
Max can rematch Dustin. If he wins that then he should be in the mix for a LW shot

 

[richardjohnson]

Good fight but I think Dana has to get over it and just rebook Arman vs Islam. It just makes the most sense.

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

I love the fight however...

Islam needs to fight LWs not FWs. Since FWs shouldn't be fighting for LW titles I don't believe FWs should be put into LW title eliminators.
Ilia doesn't deserve a title shot at LW so not sure how Max should get one for losing to him. Let's not forget Max is 1-1 as a LW.

I don't think Arman should fight anyone else he should fight Islam. If he has to fight to determine next for Islam then a rematch with Charles works.
Max can rematch Dustin. If he wins that then he should be in the mix for a LW shot

Max doesn't deserve a title shot losing to Ilia, he deserves a title shot if he beats Arman. i don't even like this fight, but the logic everyone is using here to discredit Max fighting in a title eliminator is kind of ridiculous when Alex Pereira literally did what everyone is saying Max shouldn't be able to do, and nobody complained about that. he got knocked out in a lower weight class, fought a title eliminator in Jan, and then fought for the title. how is this not exactly the same as Max's situation? not to mention, Max already KO'd the LW #1 contender BEFORE he even fought Topuria.

why does Max have to fight Poirer? he knocked out the guy who had just knocked Poirer out.

as for the fight. just sign Arman for the title shot and stop doing this stupid shit. they already fucked Gaethje and Max out of title shots at LW, why continue to try to fuck #1 contenders over by making them fight extra fights? UFC is a clown show with their rankings.

 

[BullyKutta]

Max is going to spend the rest of his career doing superfights. He's on borrowed time and needs to cash out as much as possible.

Arman is not a superfight.

 

[BluntForceTrama]

Max hasn’t had much experience w neck bearded wraslers

I think he gets throttled here

 

[World eater]

I don’t even care that much at this point. I was excited to see Arman - Islam, but when it fell through, I got disappointed to the point of annoyance. Arman should be next for Islam, but getting punished by another title eliminator is fine by me, be it Max or Oliveira, whatever. I will watch either way.

 

[World eater]

Max doesn't deserve a title shot losing to Ilia, he deserves a title shot if he beats Arman. i don't even like this fight, but the logic everyone is using here to discredit Max fighting in a title eliminator is kind of ridiculous when Alex Pereira literally did what everyone is saying Max shouldn't be able to do, and nobody complained about that. he got knocked out in a lower weight class, fought a title eliminator in Jan, and then fought for the title. how is this not exactly the same as Max's situation? not to mention, Max already KO'd the LW #1 contender BEFORE he even fought Topuria.

Well, the difference is that prior to the ko, Alex was champion, while Max was not. Otherwise, you are spot on.

 

[DoubleTrouble]

A guy who just got KTFO'd at FW doesn't deserve a N1C fight. I day make Arman vs Oliveria II for N1C and let Islam have a N1C match against winner of Edwards and JDM for next shot at WW belt.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Max doesn't deserve a title shot losing to Ilia, he deserves a title shot if he beats Arman. i don't even like this fight, but the logic everyone is using here to discredit Max fighting in a title eliminator is kind of ridiculous when Alex Pereira literally did what everyone is saying Max shouldn't be able to do, and nobody complained about that. he got knocked out in a lower weight class, fought a title eliminator in Jan, and then fought for the title. how is this not exactly the same as Max's situation? not to mention, Max already KO'd the LW #1 contender BEFORE he even fought Topuria.

why does Max have to fight Poirer? he knocked out the guy who had just knocked Poirer out.

as for the fight. just sign Arman for the title shot and stop doing this stupid shit. they already fucked Gaethje and Max out of title shots at LW, why continue to try to fuck #1 contenders over by making them fight extra fights? UFC is a clown show with their rankings.

I have been on record saying Alex was fast tracked not once but twice for title shots and rode the coat tails of Izzy in getting all of his UFC success so not everyone was OK with that.

I 100% agree the UFC needs to stop with all this Bullshit and respect the fighters climbing the rankings. That is why I don't agree with Max getting a LW title eliminator. Not attempting to discredit Max. He was sitting pretty after UFC 300 and made the choice to go back to FW for a title fight. He lost by KO to Ilia so I don't see a valid reason for him jumping back to the front of the que at LW. Dustin is just a "Fun Fight" for him at LW that would still have meaning. Both have fought for the BMF and a win over Dustin gives Max something on his resume at LW to validate top 5 consideration. Just my opinion.

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

I have been on record saying Alex was fast tracked not once but twice for title shots and rode the coat tails of Izzy in getting all of his UFC success so not everyone was OK with that.

I 100% agree the UFC needs to stop with all this Bullshit and respect the fighters climbing the rankings. That is why I don't agree with Max getting a LW title eliminator. Not attempting to discredit Max. He was sitting pretty after UFC 300 and made the choice to go back to FW for a title fight. He lost by KO to Ilia so I don't see a valid reason for him jumping back to the front of the que at LW. Dustin is just a "Fun Fight" for him at LW that would still have meaning. Both have fought for the BMF and a win over Dustin gives Max something on his resume at LW to validate top 5 consideration. Just my opinion.

because what happens at FW doesn't affect what you do at LW? but if it does, then Ilia should be #1 contender at LW but he's not. Max wasn't even #1 contender after knocking out the #1 contender. then Poirer jumps him in the rankings for beating BSD and getting his ass kicked by Islam? makes no sense. it only makes sense to make Islam look better for beating him. now Gaethje is ranked higher than Max even though Max slept him. so basically Arman became the #1 contender without beating the former #1 contender OR the guy who knocked him out.

this is why i say anyone trying to use logic for who should fight who using the rankings won't ever make total sense because of how UFC haphazardly moves people up the rankings just because they have fights coming up to make it look better.

 

[Mammothman]

this fight does nothing for me. I'd rather see max vs chandler or max vs oliveria 2

Oliveira vs Max 2 really needs to happen.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

because what happens at FW doesn't affect what you do at LW? but if it does, then Ilia should be #1 contender at LW but he's not. Max wasn't even #1 contender after knocking out the #1 contender. then Poirer jumps him in the rankings for beating BSD and getting his ass kicked by Islam? makes no sense. it only makes sense to make Islam look better for beating him. now Gaethje is ranked higher than Max even though Max slept him. so basically Arman became the #1 contender without beating the former #1 contender OR the guy who knocked him out.

this is why i say anyone trying to use logic for who should fight who using the rankings won't ever make total sense because of how UFC haphazardly moves people up the rankings just because they have fights coming up to make it look better.

You are looking at only 1 fight to say Ilia should be #1 contender and you are looking at only 1 fight to say Max should be #1 contender.

Ilia has done nothing at LW so IMO absolutely no he is not remotely #1 contender, even beating Max. If Ilia can dominate at FW (5 defenses min) then maybe he can be talked about moving up for a title shot. If he can't cut to FW anymore he can start a campaign for a title shot. I don't believe he warrants an immediate shot and I don't think he should even start in a title eliminator.

Max beat the LW #1 contender. IMO that doesn't make Max the #1 contender at LW and he doesn't get to live off that win forever.
Imagine if the Jets (one of the worst teams in the NFL) beat the KC Chiefs in the last game of the season. They don't get to go to the playoffs with the #1 seed do they? Max has 2 fights in the LW division. He got them because of his entire resume at the time and not simply off his last fight.

Gathje is ranked higher at LW then Max and you are confused as to why? Max is 6-4 in his last 10 fights but he is 1-1 at LW.
Gathje is 7-3 in his last ten but they were all at LW. You don't get points for FW fights in the LW division IMO. You do lose points if you lose in the divsion below. You don't seem to lose points (at least not as much) for a loss in the division above. Volk got a pass for losing to Islam. Max got a pass for losing to Dustin.

 

[Rektkid]

Tsarukyan will just power wrestle him to a points win or a GnP stoppage.

 

[NoSmilez]

Leave Max alone.