Tsarukyan expects UFC lightweight title shot in September as options take shape

Arman Tsarukyan has confirmed his next UFC appearance will be a lightweight title fight, targeting September in Los Angeles — though he is still waiting on an opponent to be finalised.

Speaking during UFC 328 fight week, Tsarukyan told Fanatics president Mike Hermalyn that the bout is set in principle. “My next fight is the title fight, which is probably [in] September,” Tsarukyan said. “[It will likely happen in] L.A. But I’m a backup for the White House, too. If someone pulled out, gets hurt, [I’m in].”

That backup role is for the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje lightweight championship headliner on June 14. Tsarukyan clarified at the RAF 9 pre-fight press conference that, as an emergency replacement, he would not be weighing in ahead of that event. He is already scheduled to fight former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson at RAF 10, making his card a busy one regardless of whether the Topuria–Gaethje main event goes ahead as planned.

BMF champion Charles Oliveira was also floated as a potential opponent. Tsarukyan mentioned Oliveira while looking through a box of UFC cards, though the pairing would not necessarily involve Oliveira’s BMF title. The more widely discussed scenario is that, should Topuria defeat Gaethje, Oliveira — known as “El Matador” — could move up to welterweight for a fight with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, which would open the door for Tsarukyan to challenge for the undisputed lightweight belt.

Tsarukyan kept himself sharp ahead of his anticipated UFC return by competing at RAF 9 in Dallas over the weekend, picking up a lopsided technical fall victory over Mugzy in the event’s opening bout. The performance underlined his intent to stay active while the promotional machinery around his title shot continues to move.