Arman Tsarukyan open to interim title if Makhachev not ready this year

Arman Tsarukyan hopes to fight for the UFC title whether or not Islam Makhachev is part of the equation.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was offered lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) just two months after beating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April, but turned it down due to the short notice. Makhachev fought Dustin Poirier instead at UFC 302, submitting him in Round 5.

Tsarukyan is expected to run things back with Makhachev next, but with Makhachev sidelined due to a ligament injury in his hand, he may have to wait. The streaking contender was hoping to challenge Makhachev at UFC 308 on Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi.

“So my manager told me I’m going to fight in October vs. Islam,” Tsarukyan told Submission Radio. “And then he said that he got injured and now they moved that fight in December or maybe next year.

“So of course it’s sad because I already started training very hard, and I’m in shape, and I thought we’re going to fight in October, but it is what it is. So if it’s December for me, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to wait and train as much as I can.”

If the wait ends up stretching into next year, Tsarukyan wants to compete for an interim title.

“If Islam can’t fight this year, for sure I would like to fight for the interim title, and it doesn’t matter who is going to be in front of me,” Tsarukyan said. “Dustin Poirier, he’s a solid fighter and he has a lot of experience. Yeah, it would be great. Dustin, (Justin) Gaethje, Michael Chandler as well. But my focus is on Islam.”

Makhachev has made it clear that he’s not too interested in rematching Tsarukyan after beating him in 2019, but would fight him if offered. Tsarukyan, who’s won nine of his past 10, finds his comments laughable.

“He should fight with Paddy Pimblett – maybe he deserves more than me because I’m No. 1,” Tsarukyan said. “Because he can lose to me, that’s why he’s not interested in me. … I believe in myself. I’m going there to knock him out, and that’s it.”