Arman Tsarukyan praised Conor McGregor as one of the fighters who changed the UFC, then said the former two-division champion looks done against elite opposition.
McGregor has spent the week answering questions about his UFC 329 knee injury and another Max Holloway fight. In Milwaukee before RAF 11, Tsarukyan said McGregor’s legacy is secure, but his current matchmaking should change.
Watch Tsarukyan’s full interview below:
“Conor, unfortunately he got [an] injury during the fight or maybe before the fight and he couldn’t perform very well,” Tsarukyan said. “I feel like Conor is done. He’s got to just focus on his business. He did a lot for this sport, for the UFC especially, and he’s like a GOAT in our sport. Because of him, a lot of people are watching the UFC.
“He changed the game but time to leave. Or UFC got to give him easy fights, not like Holloway or someone.”
Asked who would qualify as that easier kind of opponent, Tsarukyan smiled and answered, “Me.”
“Just make the money and let them know that he can beat me,” Tsarukyan said when the McGregor matchup was framed as a payday.
Tsarukyan also pointed to Ben Askren‘s RAF 11 return after a double-lung transplant and said that comeback hit him harder than another McGregor comeback attempt.
“First of all, Ben Askren, it’s unbelievable how he came back from that situation and he’s so motivated me,” Tsarukyan said. “The guy almost died. He came back in wrestling, competing. Shout out to Ben.”
McGregor is 22-7 after his July 11 loss to Holloway, which ended at 1:09 of Round 1 when his right knee gave out following an early kick attempt at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The loss came after a five-year UFC layoff and followed the broken-leg stoppage against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021.
McGregor still has the history Tsarukyan credited. He won UFC titles at featherweight and lightweight, became the promotion’s first simultaneous two-division champion, crossed over into the Floyd Mayweather boxing event, and turned himself into the sport’s most famous draw. Tsarukyan’s argument is that the resume no longer demands elite UFC opponents after two straight injury endings.
Tsarukyan Says His Own Chase Is Still At 155
The interview came during RAF 11 fight week. The event takes place Saturday, July 18, 2026, at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, with the card streaming on FOX Nation. Tsarukyan faces Colby Covington in the main event, where the inaugural RAF crossover title is attached to the match.
“I respect him,” Tsarukyan said of Covington. “He’s a good fighter, a strong wrestler, but I feel like it’s my time. I’m young. I know a lot of techniques and he’s not that hungry as me. I know I can do my work easy tomorrow.”
Tsarukyan said the RAF belt mattered because the prize itself pulled something out of him.
“To be a champion, it’s motivate me,” Tsarukyan said. “When I was young, when I went to the competitions and I see what they give it to me, if there is like a small belt or something bigger or like big presents, I was super motivated. Here is same. When they told me you’re going to wrestle for the belt, then I was super excited because I’m doing just not for the money. I’m doing this for the sport, for my legacy.”
The side quest has not changed his UFC goal. Tsarukyan is 23-3 in MMA, has been chasing the top of the lightweight division since his UFC debut against Islam Makhachev, and already owns the kind of win over Charles Oliveira that keeps him in the title conversation. His cancelled shot at Makhachev still hangs over the division, especially now that Justin Gaethje is sitting with the belt.
Tsarukyan has stayed unusually active on the RAF circuit, including a Georgia appearance where he dove into the crowd after getting booed. He said the travel load has been heavy, but the activity is not a complaint.
“People was not on my side, but they gave me more energy because I wanted to not even give any points and make them happy that I’m going to lose,” Tsarukyan said. “I was super focused. Today morning I woke up and I couldn’t understand where I’m at. I’m looking at the window like, okay, where I’m at right now? I just flew 16, 18 hours from Dubai, from Armenia to Dubai four hours and from Dubai to here 15 hours.
“I like what I’m doing and I can’t complain. It’s like dreaming life. Hopefully I’m going to get my UFC fight next and then just close this year very well. I want to maybe compete 12 times in RAF, and who knows, maybe I can do two more fights in UFC.”
That UFC part became more specific when the conversation turned to Paddy Pimblett, who said during UFC 329 week that Tsarukyan needed to “take off the singlet and actually fight somebody.”
“Good performance,” Tsarukyan said of Pimblett’s latest UFC win. “He did a very good job and yeah, he’s right, but UFC’s got to give me a fight. That’s why I’m flying to Vegas and they have a date, I have a name. We just got to confirm on Monday and everything is almost set up.
“We just put the paper on Monday and that’s it. I’m ready to rock ‘n’ roll. It’s going to be a good fight, exciting fight and the best place to fight for me.”
He also teased the shape of that plan in simple terms, saying, “This year two fights, two belts.”
Tsarukyan also said he was happy with Justin Gaethje’s win over Ilia Topuria because of a personal wager around the fight.
“Yeah, I was surprised and I was super happy,” Tsarukyan said of Gaethje’s win. “Because we made a lot of money. The big bet. He didn’t want the truck, so we give away the truck and the one guy from Houston won it. We’re going to give him that truck next week.”
Tsarukyan shut down the idea that a McGregor money fight is the real target. He said McGregor is done, then turned straight back to the lightweight belt.
“I want to be a champion at 155 and I want to defend that belt as much as possible,” Tsarukyan said. “My goal is to be the best ever lightweight. I’m not looking to go up or down. I feel like I can be the best, I just don’t want to be a UFC champion. I want to be the best UFC champion in lightweight division ever.”
He closed the interview with the same target, saying, “Hopefully this year I achieve my goal.”
McGregor has already said he wants Holloway again once his knee is repaired. Dana White has not committed to that, and White said the UFC has to wait on surgery and recovery before turning any trilogy talk into matchmaking. Tsarukyan still credited McGregor’s impact, but his matchmaking position was clear: easier fights or no more UFC run.
