Arman Tsarukyan may not have the 155-pound title, but he’s the most talked about lightweight in UFC
.The No. 2-ranked title contender won’t be getting a title shot anytime soon, thanks to the UFC 311 fiasco, as well as the international headbutt of doom at UFC Qatar. So how does the promotion book the 29 year-old “Ahalkalakets” to capitalize on his recent rise to stardom?
“How do you discipline Arman Tsarukyan,” former UFC heavyweight, Brendan Schaub, said on his podcast. “Go to the 155 rankings.
Who do you give him to discipline him? What are you gonna do? He gets the winner of Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira [who fight at UFC 326]; he beats both of them.”
“The only guy who has a shot to beat him is the champion, Ilia Topuria,“ Schaub added. ”Outside of that, he mops the floor with everybody. The UFC is in a bit of a pickle here. He’s built his value. He’s built his exposure. That’s exactly what the UFC wants from guys. How do you discipline this guy? He’s too good.”
Outside of his UFC duties, Tsarukyan (23-3) has been a fixture on the Real American Freestyle (RAF) mats, where he continues to make headlines for his short-temper and extracurricular activities. In addition, “Ahalkalakets” regularly appears for the HYPE FC promotion overseas.
Whether or not Tsarukyan gets the winner of Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 at UFC 326 remains to be seen.
