Tsarukyan targets five lightweight title defenses to surpass Makhachev's UFC record

Arman Tsarukyan has a long-term goal that goes beyond simply winning the UFC lightweight title: he wants to outlast Islam Makhachev’s legacy at 155 pounds by defending the belt at least five times, one more than Makhachev managed before vacating the division.

“At least five title defenses,” Tsarukyan said on the Deep Waters show. “I want to beat the record in the lightweight division. Islam had four defenses, so I want to make five and then we’ll see — or I retire or go up to 170, because I’ve got to gain weight for 170.”

The rivalry between the two fighters stretches back to 2019, when a 22-year-old Tsarukyan took a short-notice debut fight against Makhachev at a UFC event in Russia and pushed him to a hard-fought decision. Makhachev went on to become champion, and Tsarukyan worked his way back to a title shot at UFC 311 in January 2025, only for a back injury to force him out before the fight. Makhachev has since vacated the lightweight title and claimed welterweight gold, making a direct rematch uncertain.

In Tsarukyan’s absence, Ilia Topuria claimed the vacant belt with a knockout of Charles Oliveira, but lost it in his first defense when Justin Gaethje produced a stunning upset at UFC White House in June. Gaethje is now the champion Tsarukyan is targeting, though he must first clear a significant hurdle in Mauricio Ruffy in the co-main event of UFC 331 on September 19.

Tsarukyan says matchmakers have given him a verbal promise of a title shot should he beat Ruffy, and he has already mapped out how the top of the division should look. “Me vs. Gaethje. Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett,” he said, though he acknowledged the UFC may be reluctant to risk back-to-back losses for Topuria and suggested Pimblett could instead be lined up for an easier fight before a potential title shot.

As for Topuria specifically, Tsarukyan is watching closely. “Either he’s going to be super good or after this fight he’s not going to recover,” he said. “I think he’s going to be more motivated, he’s going to focus on his training camp. No bullshit. Because he’s an incredible fighter.”

Makhachev’s four lightweight title defenses were themselves a record — no champion in the division had previously reached that mark — meaning Tsarukyan is aiming at a standard that has only just been set.