Tsarukyan Eyes More UFC Lightweight Title Defenses Than Makhachev

Arman Tsarukyan, the UFC's second-ranked lightweight contender, has reaffirmed his ambition to claim and defend the 155-pound title more times than predecessors Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, even as he navigates a return to the Octagon amid recent grappling successes and off-cage controversies.

The 28-year-old Armenian fighter, who withdrew from a scheduled title bout against Makhachev in early 2025 due to injury, has faced scrutiny from UFC officials over incidents including a punch thrown at a fan during UFC 300, a headbutt involving Dan Hooker, and a post-match brawl at a freestyle wrestling event. These have kept him on the sidelines, leading him to compete in grappling promotions while awaiting his next UFC assignment. Tsarukyan recently disclosed positive discussions with UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell, who provided a date for his return, though details remain unconfirmed by the promotion.

In a recent interview on the JAXXON Podcast, Tsarukyan expressed his drive for dominance. "I like to be the best," he said. "Islam defended four times, so I want to defend five, six times." He views the lightweight division as his domain and aims to eclipse...