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Arman Tsarukyan Names 3 Opponent Options For Interim UFC Title Fight In Light Of Islam Makhachev Injury

Should his expected shot at Islam Makhachev’s UFC lightweight title be delayed until 2025, Arman Tsarukyan is open to facing another contender for interim status. Tsarukyan secured his first opportunity at gold on MMA’s biggest stage by recording his biggest win to date at the expense of former champion Charles Oliveira on the milestone UFC […]

Continue Reading Arman Tsarukyan Names 3 Opponent Options For Interim UFC Title Fight In Light Of Islam Makhachev Injury at MMA News.

Should his expected shot at Islam Makhachev’s UFC lightweight title be delayed until 2025, Arman Tsarukyan is open to facing another contender for interim status.

Tsarukyan secured his first opportunity at gold on MMA’s biggest stage by recording his biggest win to date at the expense of former champion Charles Oliveira on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April.

With the promotion always looking to have Makhachev defend his belt in Abu Dhabi, Tsarukyan was expected to challenge his former opponent in the main event of UFC 308 this coming October.

Disaster stuck recently, however, after Makhachev suffered a severe hand injury that could leave him on the sidelines until late 2024 or even the next calendar year.

While a patient wait until December would be welcomed by Tsarukyan, the top contender wouldn’t mind returning to action in the meantime should the latter of those two timelines come to fruition…

Tsarukyan Open To Poirier, Gaethje, Chandler Matchups For Interim Title

During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Tsarukyan provided an update on the status of his title shot following confirmation that Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway for the featherweight belt will instead top the UFC 308 lineup on Oct. 26.

The Russian-Armenian acknowledged that he may need to wait until 2025 to compete with undisputed gold on the line. And if that’s the case, he’d be open to adding a second champ to the division by facing either Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, or Michael Chandler for an interim strap.

“My manager told me I was gonna fight in October versus Islam, and then he said to UFC that he got injured. Now, they’ve moved that fight to December or maybe next year,” Tsarukyan said. “Of course it’s sad, because I already started training really hard and I’m in shape. … But it is what it is.

“If it’s December, for me it doesn’t matter. I’m gonna wait and train as much as I can,” Tsarukyan continued. “If Islam can’t fight this year, for sure I would like to fight for the interim title, and it doesn’t matter who is gonna be in front of me. Dustin Poirier, he is a solid fighter and he has a lot of experience. Yeah, it would be great. Dustin, Gaethje — Michael Chandler as well.”

During his rise up the lightweight ladder, Tsarukyan frequently accused the likes of Gaethje and Chandler of holding their top five positions hostage by not fighting up-and-comers.

More recently, his focus has been on Chandler’s continued wait for Conor McGregor’s comeback, which was recently scrapped from the UFC 303 card in June due to an injury to the Irishman.

Does it mean we can finally watch you lose 4 exciting fights now? https://t.co/wdkR5sos3v

— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) August 6, 2024

With talk of Chandler finally moving on, perhaps the former three-time Bellator champ will be receptive to Tsarukyan’s interim title pitch.

Read More: Umar Nurmagomedov Touts Bellator Champion As Islam Makhachev’s UFC Lightweight Successor

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Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’

Charles Oliveira lost a razor-close decision to Arman Tsarukyan last time out at UFC 300, and he’s now looking for a new opponent. With 19 post-fight bonuses, the Brazilian’s easily one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and there are several intriguing matchups for him. Oliveira bagged the UFC lightweight championship by beating […]

Continue Reading Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’ at MMA News.

Charles Oliveira lost a razor-close decision to Arman Tsarukyan last time out at UFC 300, and he’s now looking for a new opponent.

With 19 post-fight bonuses, the Brazilian’s easily one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and there are several intriguing matchups for him.

Oliveira bagged the UFC lightweight championship by beating Michael Chandler in May 2021. He defended it against Dustin Poirier before being stripped after missing weight prior to his victory over Justin Gaethje.

Since failing to regain the title in his clash with Islam Makhachev, he’s defeated Beneil Dariush and is looking for another high-profile win to get a another shot at the gold.

From Makhachev to Colby Covington, here are all the fighters that Oliveira is open to facing in his UFC return…

Oliveira Eyes Rematch Against Makhachev, Also Open To Money Fights With McGregor, Covington, Poirier

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A post shared by Charles Oliveira (@charlesdobronxs)

Oliveira recently posted training footage on Instagram and asked his fans to choose his next opponent. He’s willing to fight the following names on the UFC roster:

Islam Makhachev
Arman Tsarukyan
Dustin Poirier
Conor McGregor
Max Holloway
Justin Gaethje
Alexander Volkanovski
Colby Covington

Alongside the list, Oliveira declared his intention to fight shortly.

“Who would you like to see me fight next? The Lion is ready!!”

“Do Bronx” has already fought Tsarukyan, Makhachev, Poirier, Gaethje, and Holloway. While Makhachev submitted him in the second, he fought through adversity to beat “The Diamond” and “The Highlight.” The fight with Holloway ended due to the Brazilian sustaining a shoulder injury, and fans could look forward to seeing the rematch more than ever now.

The other matchups on the list won’t necessarily move the needle in the UFC lightweight division. McGregor has lost three out of his last four fights and will most likely return to face Michael Chandler. Volkanovski, meanwhile, is 0-2 in the lightweight division and has yet to rematch Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight title.

Covington is another opponent that “Do Bronx” would fight to entertain the fans. The former interim UFC welterweight champion decisively lost to Leon Edwards in his last fight and appears unlikely to fight for the title again.

Regardless of the opponent, it is safe to assume that Oliveira will bring the fight to the Octagon and give fans another gritty performance.

Read More: Belal Muhammad Says Trash Talk From Fans At UFC 304 Only Motivated Him More: ‘I’m From The South Side Of Chicago!’

Continue Reading Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’ at MMA News.

Justin Gaethje reveals one thing he would have done differently in his UFC 300 fight against Max Holloway

Looking back, Justin Gaethje knows what he would have done differently in his critically acclaimed BMF title clash against…

Looking back, Justin Gaethje knows what he would have done differently in his critically acclaimed BMF title clash against Max Holloway.

Nine months removed from his sensational second-round KO of Dustin Poirier to claim the bragging rights belt, Gaethje returned to the Octagon at UFC 300 for a BMF clash with former featherweight world champion Max Holloway. In the final 10 seconds of their scrap, ‘Blessed’ called for both men to stand in the center of the cage and throw hands until the final horn.

Gaethje was more than happy to oblige.

In one of the most chaotic finishes in UFC history, Holloway landed a big right hand with one tick left on the clock, sending Gaethje crashing to the canvas and bringing an end to their history-making fight.

Justin Gaethje reflects on his loss to ‘blessed’

Looking back on the bout during an appearance on The Anik & Florian Podcast, Justin Gaethje offered some insight into what he would have done differently if he could turn back the clock and do it all over again.

“I didn’t feel exhausted in there, which I would assume would’ve been the repercussion of breaking your nose is not being able to use it,” Gaethje said.

“My gameplan wasn’t necessarily the correct gameplan, but that’s only something you can [worry about] after the fact. [Max Holloway] was very precise, perfect that night. I think I would’ve pressured more, I would’ve tried to move forward and fight. I thought he would come to me, and then when he did come, it was few and far between, where it was so unpredictable and fast that I didn’t see it or find it.“

“If I would have been inside and like I did in the fourth round, similar to the fourth round, only round that I for sure think I won, I moved forward. I was trying to step on his feet. I think that was the way that I had to fight that fight. At least from the second round on.”

What comes next for Justin Gaethje remains to be seen, but Holloway appears primed to fight for another belt when he steps back inside the Octagon later this year.

“I think he fought an amazing fight,” Gaethje added. “He was very precise and perfect that night—a very tough Max Holloway to beat.”

UFC star Dustin Poirier plays up trilogy fight with Justin Gaethje: ‘I don’t like to leave things unsettled’

Amid continued links to a retirement from mixed martial arts, former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has welcomed the…

Amid continued links to a retirement from mixed martial arts, former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has welcomed the chance to take on fellow former interim gold holder, Justin Gaethje in a trilogy rubber match – claiming the pairing is still “unsettled” between the duo.

Poirier, the current number four ranked divisional contender, most recently headlined UFC 302 last month in New Jersey, taking on pound-for-pound number one, Islam Makhachev – suffering a stunning fifth round D’Arce choke submission loss in his failed bid to snatch the undisputed lightweight crown.

Dustin Poirier still unclear on fighting future I'm still unsure about what's next

As for Gaethje, the former interim lightweight champion and symbolic BMF titleholder, featured at UFC 300 earlier this year against common-foe, Max Holloway, dropping the latter of those crowns with a devastating fifth round, buzzer-beating KO loss to the Hawaiian.

Dustin Poirier weighs up trilogy fight with Justin Gaethje

And remaining non-committal on his fighting future off the back of his loss to Makhachev, Poirier was asked about the chances of him sharing the Octagon with Arizona veteran, Gaethje in the future, Poirier admitted that while he’s still yet to decide on his future – he would hate to leave the bout “unsettled”.

“You know, I don’t like to leave things unsettled,” Dustin Poirier told ESPN MMA. “We are 1-1, with one KO apiece. So, the rubber match? I don’t know, we gotta see.”

Returning to training six weeks after his stunning knockout loss to common-opponent, Holloway, the above-mentioned, Gaethje first fought Poirier on home soil back in 2018, suffering a fourth round TKO defeat.

Justin Gaethje plans six month hiatus from the UFC after KO loss to Max Holloway I want to take care of myself — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

However, in July of last year, Poirier met Gaethje in a rematch for the symbolic BMF title, dropping an hellacious second round high-kick KO in the pair’s second bout under the banner of the promotion.

Would you like to see Dustin Poirier return in a rubber match with Justin Gaethje?

UFC star Dustin Poirier plays up trilogy fight with Justin Gaethje: ‘I don’t like to leave things unsettled’

Amid continued links to a retirement from mixed martial arts, former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has welcomed the…

Dustin Poirier weighs up trilogy fight with Justin Gaethje

“You know, I don’t like to leave things unsettled,” Dustin Poirier told ESPN MMA. “We are 1-1, with one KO apiece. So, the rubber match? I don’t know, we gotta see.”

Would you like to see Dustin Poirier return in a rubber match with Justin Gaethje?

Video – Justin Gaethje returns to the gym 6 weeks after his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway

Six weeks removed from his brutal knockout loss at UFC 300, Justin Gaethje is already back in the gym….

Six weeks removed from his brutal knockout loss at UFC 300, Justin Gaethje is already back in the gym.

After claiming the BMF title with a sensational second-round head-kick KO against Dustin Poirier last summer, ‘The Highlight’ became the first man to defend the bragging rights belt. Featuring at the promotion’s landmark event on April 13, Gaethje stepped inside the Octagon with former featherweight champion Max Holloway and delivered an instant classic.

Unfortunately, things would not go Gaethje’s way as the former interim titleholder suffered a brutal buzzer-beating knockout, ending his short run with the BMF belt and effectively taking him out of the lightweight title picture for the time being.

Less than two months removed from the four-minute and 49-second war, Justin Gaethje is already trying to get back into the swing of things, courtesy of a video clip shared on the fan favorites’ Instagram.

“Trying to get back in the routine, ” he wrote.

What’s next for Justin Gaethje?

We’re still a long way off from seeing Justin Gaethje back inside the Octagon as he previously told MMA Hangout that he wanted to take at least six months off before jumping back into full-on training.

“Metaphorically, I could be ready tomorrow, but physically, I do want to take care of myself,” Gaethje said. “I do think that repeated concussions, with me going to sleep like that, me receiving that shot, it would be foolish for me to jump back into training anytime before 180 days.

“I could do cardio, I can stay in shape, that’s what I want to try and do — especially [with] the older I get, the harder it is to get back to the best shape of my life, so I want to stay active. Obviously, the physical contact is going to be limited for quite some time, just because I want to preserve myself. … I think six months, at least, before I get back to taking shots. But that doesn’t say that I won’t be training the whole time” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Who he faces in his inevitable return will ultimately come down to how things play out at the top of the division over the next several months.

On Saturday, June 1, reigning lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev is scheduled to defend his title against two-time Gaethje opponent Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 headliner. It will likely be Poirier’s final shot at gold as ‘The Diamond’ has already been talking about retirement following the fight — win or lose.

Should Makhachev survive ‘The Diamond,’ he’ll likely find himself paired up with No. 1 ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan this October when the UFC makes its annual fall pit stop in Abu Dhabi.

How those two fights shake out will determine what comes next for Gaethje and ‘The Highlight’ guns for one more shot at the 155-pound crown before laying down his own gloves.