Tsarukyan's coach backs Volkanovski UFC lightweight title fight as Gaethje decision looms

American Top Team coach Marcos “Parrumpa” da Matta has thrown his support behind a UFC lightweight title fight between Arman Tsarukyan and Alexander Volkanovski, telling Sherdog on Thursday that his fighter deserves the next championship shot — against either Volkanovski or reigning champion Justin Gaethje.

The Brazilian coach made clear that Tsarukyan’s path to the title depends largely on whether Gaethje chooses to defend his belt. “It will depend a lot on Gaethje and the UFC. If Gaethje wants to defend the belt, it’s more than proven that the No. 1 who most deserves the title shot is Arman,” da Matta said.

Volkanovski, who has publicly expressed interest in moving up to lightweight for a title shot, received warm words from da Matta. The coach pointed to the Australian’s recent knockout victory over an undefeated opponent as evidence of his continued elite status. “As Dana White himself said, it’s hard to say no to Volkanovski,” da Matta noted. “A guy who’s good at everything he does, without a doubt one of the legends of the sport and who, at 38, is coming off a beautiful knockout over an undefeated fighter.”

Da Matta suggested February or March as a realistic window for Tsarukyan’s return to the octagon, and expressed particular interest in a proposed UFC card in Florida as a potential venue for the title fight — whichever opponent is confirmed.

“For me, as long as it’s a title fight, either one would be perfect. Our job is to go in there and win,” da Matta said, underlining that the camp’s priority is securing a championship bout rather than choosing a specific opponent.

The comments add further momentum to what is shaping up as a crowded lightweight title picture, with Gaethje’s intentions as champion yet to be formally confirmed by the UFC.