Arman Tsarukyan Willing to Be Backup Fighter for UFC 317, UFC 318 Main Events

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

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Arman Tsarukyan is making himself available in case the Ultimate Fighting Championship needs him.


The promotion’s summer calender features prominent lightweight bouts atop both UFC 317 (Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira ) and UFC 318 (Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway). Tsarukyan, who hasn’t fought since April 2024, is willing to serve as a backup fighter for either headlining bout.

“I am not sure if that’s needed, but if they offer me that, I will definitely back it up,” Tsarukyan said of the UFC 317 featured bout following his victory over Patricky Freire in a grappling match. “I will be ready. I am flying back to the U.S. now and will be staying there in case anyone is injured and [if] the UFC asks me if I am ready, I will say yes.”

Tsarukyan defeated Oliveira at UFC 300 to become the lightweight division’s No. 1 contender. However, he lost his opportunity when he pulled out of a proposed booking against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 due to a back injury. With Makhachev vacating the belt, Topuria and Oliveira will vie for the vacant 155-pound strap during International Fight Week.

If he isn’t needed there, Tsarukyan is also ready to step up at UFC 318, where Poirier will make his final Octagon appearance in a rematch against Holloway in New Orleans on July 19. Tsarukyan knows his reputation might need some repairing after pulling out of UFC 311, and he’s willing to do wait it takes to improve that perception.

“Absolutely positive [I’d say yes],” Tsarukyan said. “I need to take chances now. I got injured and this injury got misinterpreted. The doctor didn’t let everybody know what really happened, so some people still think I ducked that fight.

“Now I just need to get back on track, so I’m going to do whatever the UFC tells me to do.”

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Arman Tsarukyan Willing to Be Backup Fighter for UFC 317, UFC 318 Main Events

Arman Tsarukyan is making himself available in case the Ultimate Fighting Championship needs him.

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[CC27]

He knows his rep needs repairing yet UFC offered him Gamrot main event for Abu Dhabi in July and he turned it down saying its beneath him.

What he should have done is take the fight, its a main event vs someone who beat you and go in and smoke Gamrot and say who's next? But he probably did more damage with UFC by turning it down. Now if Topuria wins they could go with Paddy for title next and just do Justin/Hooker which was booked at one point leaving Arman out.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

Well seeing as he couldn't even make it to the cage last time, they better have another back up to his back up. Lol

 

[Portland8242]

Atleast you can appreciate a fighter who's never trying to hide from top competition. He's openly called out every single LW below him and nobody wants to take the fight with him. He refused Gambot because Gambot doesn't deserve a #1 contender fight. Hooker, Paddy, Gaethje, are more deserving of the Arman fight.

With Islam officially out of the divsion, Arman is IMO the best LW currently (he beats Topuria IMO).

 

[Khaosan]

The guy who’s in the dog house for not showing up to his fight wants to be backup for someone not showing up to their fight..

I’m sure that will work out.

 

[SamuraiBro]

I was fine with Arman turning down the Gamrot fight. It’s a fight I thought he already won and got robbed plus Gamrot just lost to Hooker. I’m glad he’s ready for the call.

 

[don't ask]

The guy who’s in the dog house for not showing up to his fight wants to be backup for someone not showing up for their fight..

I’m sure that will work out.

It's like my girlfriend cheats on me because I can't bring her to orgasm, but I want to be the back up in case her side guy can't bring her to orgasm.

 

[188912345]

I think sherdoggers are a bit harsh on fighters who get sick or injured and has to pull out.
I find it incredibly unlikely that they do it by their own choice.

Has Arman had any previous issues with that except for what happened this year?

 

[Fact Checker]

Manlet can’t even make 156, how’s he gonna make championship weight?

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

 

[Neck&Neck]

Should be Paddy

 

[fortheo]

Turned down a rematch with gamrot so that he can wait around as back up for other fights and talk about "taking chances"

 

[flektarn]

 

[188912345]

Turned down a rematch with gamrot so that he can wait around as back up for other fights and talk about "taking chances"

I can see why he turned it down, given that Gamrot just lost to Hooker.

Why should he have to rematch the lower ranked guy who lost his last fight, instead of facing the easier matchup who is ranked higher?

UFCs matchmaking rarely make sense, though.

 

[TheMoa]

I was fine with Arman turning down the Gamrot fight. It’s a fight I thought he already won and got robbed plus Gamrot just lost to Hooker. I’m glad he’s ready for the call.

So don't you think it would be a good idea to "avenge" a controversial loss and make it clear he's the better fighter? I mean, Gamrot loss to Hooker was controversial too.

 

[fortheo]

I can see why he turned it down, given that Gamrot just lost to Hooker.

Why should he have to rematch the lower ranked guy who lost his last fight, instead of facing the easier matchup who is ranked higher?

UFCs matchmaking rarely make sense, though.

Because the UFC has made it clear that they're not interested in him in the title picture until he gets another win. He could have already had another win by now if he fought gamrot. Also, it's a guy he lost to in a fight that fans loved. He could have gotten revenge, given the fans a sequel to a fight they loved, and gotten back in the UFCs good graces all in one fight.

 

[Uber_Noober]

Better get Nina Drama over there to interview him, Stat!

 

[Bradillac]

Arman desperately needs a new manager. Just baffling decisions coming from him.

 

[188912345]

Because the UFC has made it clear that they're not interested in him in the title picture until he gets another win. He could have already had another win by now if he fought gamrot. Also, it's a guy he lost to in a fight that fans loved. He could have gotten revenge, given the fans a sequel to a fight they loved, and gotten back in the UFCs good graces all in one fight.

It's also a guy who shouldn't be in a number one contenders fight, based on his previous fight.

Offering him Gamrot instead of Gaethje, Paddy, or Hooker (who beat him) feels petty from the UFC.

Maybe Gaethje and Hooker weren't interested or otherwise unavailable.

But of course, he could've just said "sir, yes sir" and had it over with.

 

[wrb]

He should of taken the Gamrot fight but the UFC created this problem by keeping him on the back-burner for so long while Islam became champ. We have two fuckups here:

1. UFC not pushing Arman up the ranks and not acknowledging he was fucked over in the 1st Gamrot fight by keeping him relevant.

2. Arman pulling out of the Islam match the night before the fight.

I think pulling out is bad but what the UFC did was worse as any fight could of sidelined him for years. Arman has bad managment for sure and he is far from inocent but the UFC not calling it a draw and moving on is fucked up.