Arman Tsarukyan thinks Justin Gaethje will be passed up for the UFC lightweight title shot.
Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), Gaethje, and Paddy Pimblett are all vying for a shot at 155-pound champion Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC). Tsarukyan knows that after withdrawing from his UFC 311 title fight against Islam Makhachev just a day before, he'll have to notch one more win before getting another opportunity.
Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) threatened to retire if he's not next for Topuria, and Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is staying ready after facing off with Topuria in the octagon at UFC 317. Tsarukyan has an inkling of what's going to happen next for Topuria.
"No, Gaethje won't fight Topuria," Tsarukyan said in an interview with Sport24 (h/t Championship Rounds). "It's my opinion. The UFC can do whatever they want. ... But I think it's more likely to be Pimblett than Gaethje. I think he'll defend his title, and if Islam (Makhachev) wins the (welterweight) title, (Topuria will) move up to 170 and want to become a triple champ."
Makhachev relinquished his lightweight title for a move up to welterweight, which prevented his superfight with Topuria from happening. He challenges Jack Della Maddalena for the 170-pound title in the UFC 322 headliner Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
While Tsarukyan still has his sights set on gold, he isn't sure it'll come against Topuria.
"He won't want to fight me because he can make more money fighting Islam, and he has the chance to become the first ever triple champion in history and earn big money," Tsarukyan said of Topuria. "And even if he loses to Islam, he can say he moved to 170 and drop back down. He'll have the excuse that he moved up two weight classes."
For now, Tsarukyan is keeping himself busy with another grappling match against former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson Friday at ACBJJ 18 in Moscow, Russia. Tsarukyan hasn't competed in MMA since edging out Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April.
