Tsarukyan accuses Gaethje of ducking him and targets Volkanovski at lightweight

Arman Tsarukyan has accused lightweight champion Justin Gaethje of ducking him and declared he is open to fighting Alexander Volkanovski at 155 pounds, with his next UFC assignment still unconfirmed heading into the end of November.

Speaking to Helen Yee Sports ahead of his RAF 14 main event against Dillon Danis last Friday, Tsarukyan made no secret of his frustration with Gaethje’s inactivity. “Someone is trying to duck me,” Tsarukyan said. “It’s Justin Gaethje. Now he’s talking about retirement.”

Gaethje claimed the undisputed lightweight title in June at UFC White House with a dominant performance over the previously unbeaten Ilia Topuria, but has since been sidelined with injury and is targeting a return no earlier than 2027, with no opponent confirmed for his first defence. While Gaethje has not publicly indicated any intention to retire as champion, he did acknowledge earlier this year that “the end is near.” Tsarukyan believes money will be the deciding factor. “Either UFC is going to pay him so much money that he’s going to fight, or he’s just going to retire,” he said. “They told me they’re going to let me know at the end of November.”

On the subject of Volkanovski, Tsarukyan shifted from his earlier suggestion of dropping to featherweight and instead said he would be happy to receive the Australian at lightweight. Volkanovski successfully defended his featherweight title against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on Saturday before calling for a fight with Gaethje himself, opening the door to a potential move up in weight. “Yeah, I would fight him,” Tsarukyan said. “I think it’s a good fight for me, stylistically. He’s old. Bad chin. He’s a tough opponent, but he’s a little bit old now and with me it’s a perfect fight.”

Should both Gaethje and Volkanovski fall out of contention and the lightweight belt become vacant, Tsarukyan expects to be among the frontrunners alongside Topuria, Paddy Pimblett, and the winner of the upcoming BMF title fight between Charles Oliveira and Diego Lopes. He was dismissive of the entire group. “Paddy, Ilia, or winner of Oliveira and Lopes — all of them on the same level, it’s not going to be hard for me,” he said.