- Arman Tsarukyan targets a title eliminator fight with Charles Oliveira and is not interested in Dustin Poirier
- “Ahalkalakets” is fine with a showdown with Justin Gaethje before fighting for the title
Fresh off his first-round KO win over Beneil Dariush at UFC Austin, Arman Tsarukyan is now eager to prove that he is deserving of a title shot. With that in mind, “Ahalkalakets” is not thrilled by the idea of taking on Dustin Poirier or anybody but Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira in a title eliminator bout.
Arman wants a fight that makes sense
Speaking to The MMA Hour, Tsarukyan made it clear that he would fight Poirier if the UFC wants to but what makes sense to him is a fight that would take him closer to the title. For “Ahalkalakets,” it’s Oliveira at the moment.
“Yes, I do but to be honest, I don’t wanna fight with him, because he lost last fight. It doesn’t make sense to fight him,” Tsarukyan said of a potential clash with Poirier. “If I beat him, people just say, ‘Oh, he just lost last fight.’ I wanna fight for the title. I need someone who definitely after that fight, I’m gonna get the title fight. It’s like, Gaethje or Oliveira.”
“If Oliveira thinks he is number one contender and he’s got the fight, let’s fight and let’s figure out who is number one. if he wins, he can go to the title, if I win, I’ll go,” he added.
“He pulled out from the last fight and he just beat Beneil Dariush and lost to Islam so it’s like 99% he’s going to lose to Islam,” he pointed out. “So, if they want to see that fight yeah go ahead but if they want to see a new generation, new fighter, they gotta put me on that fight and I’m going to show the world like who is the best in our division.”
Gaethje should say yes
If Islam Makhachev is already booked for Oliveira, Tsarukyan said that Gaethje should be open to fighting him as he doesn’t want to be waiting for too long. According to Arman, he and “The Highlight” could fight for the BMF title and make some money in the meantime.
“He has to take this fight,” Tsarukyan said of Gaethje. “Who does he want to fight? Maybe we can fight for the BMF title, why not? he can make money and I can make money… he got to take this fight, make money and give me that belt. I want to get two belts.”
Tsarukyan is now on a three-fight winning streak and is undeniably edging closer to UFC gold. Makhachev has always insisted that he is down to face anybody put in front of him but Tsarukyan’s case for a title shot would still lie in the hands of the UFC matchmakers.
Check out Tsarukyan’s full interview below:
