Arman Tsarukyan’s Fate in Dana White’s Hands as Justin Gaethje Picked to Challenge Ilia Topuria

Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett have been at each other for months now since the latter’s UFC 314 win. Then, he called Arman “just a little posh boy.” While Tsarukyan countered him, he later also welcomed a fight with him because “he has a big name.” And it did make sense. Winning against Pimblett would not just get the Armenian back on Dana White’s good books but also “get more fans from UK.” However, this chapter was untouched despite Tsarukyan getting another fight in late May after the UFC boss warned, “He will have to fight his way back to the title.” 

Fast forward to now, the second ranked contender for the Lightweight title spoke up on the matter after Ilia Topuria became the new lightweight champion over Charles Oliveira in UFC 317. He cleared out, “Paddy, he’s a good fighter. But he doesn’t deserve to fight for the title. He cannot jump ahead of me and fight for the title.” Translation? It should be a fair, sequential Ilia Tapuria vs Arman Tsarukyan bout next. However, there’s a third player in this race who believes he should be next.

Per Ali Abdelaziz, Justin Gaethje informed him back in June, “If I’m not going to fight for the (lightweight) title, I’m just gonna hang up my gloves.” Now for Tsarukyan, Gaethje “can do whatever he wants.” But not everyone agrees with the Armenian. One of them is Eddie Alvarez, who revealed his reasons in a recent interview with The Schmo.

Today, The Schmo got a hold of the former UFC champion at the BKFC 78 in Hollywood, FL. After Alvarez praised Gaethje, saying, “They call him the highlight for a reason,” The Schmo had a question for him. He asked, “So, ‘The Highlight’ over Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett against Ilia Topuria next? Maybe the Madison Square Garden, maybe not.”

Alvarez didn’t mince words saying, “Yeah, I think so. Look, whether Arman deserves or not, you get what Dana White tells you gonna get. You don’t always get what you earn. So, I don’t think the Arman fight has ‘the want’ as much as the Gaethje fight, I think.”

For him, Gaethje represents the type of fighter that adds value every time he enters the cage, win or lose. Alvarez believes that such a legacy is worthy of reward. It was a harsh reminder of how UFC matchmaking frequently works. ‘Akhalkalakets’ may be the top contender on paper, having defeated Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush in consecutive fights, but speculation does not sell pay-per-views.

Arman Tsarukyan, according to Alvarez, does not command the same level of fan demand as ‘The Highlight,’ which, more than anything, shapes the title landscape. That’s a big pill to swallow for Tsarukyan, who has already missed out on one title opportunity after withdrawing due to injury prior to UFC 311.

In any other promotion, his resume would be unquestionable. But in the UFC, moments matter as much as merit. Arman Tsarukyan’s momentum is currently stalled due to terrible luck and timing. Dana White has even suggested that ‘Akhalkalakets’ will need to re-start the ladder despite already climbing it once.

So, as Gaethje prepares for what could be his final attempt at undisputed gold, Tsarukyan is stuck in limbo, unbeaten in nearly five years but still not booked. But if only star power is the reason behind Gaethje getting the shot, as Alvarez told The Schmo, does that mean he doesn’t have what it takes to actually win when it all comes down to skill?

Eddie Alvarez reveals Justin Gaethje’s biggest weapon against Ilia Topuria

If Justin Gaethje’s name opened the door, Eddie Alvarez believes his leg kicks will keep it open. The former UFC champion, who defeated Gaethje in one of the most devastating fights of 2017, claims such kicks are more than just highlight reel material; they are game changers, especially against someone like ‘El Matador.’

“Justin can beat anyone at any time with that weapon of his,” Alvarez told The Bohnfire. “He just smashes that lead leg.” Alvarez sees Gaethje’s actual threat there. Fighters with boxing-heavy stances, like Ilia Topuria, frequently maintain weight on their front foot, making them easy targets. “I love when Justin starts landing that leg kick and watch really strong, violent men start to limp,” he added.

However, Alvarez does not advocate chaos. He wants ‘The Highlight’ to be more precise this time. “A little more calculated, a little bit less reckless abandonment,” he said. But if Gaethje combines patience and punishment, those kicks could be the key to ending Topuria’s rule before it even begins. And maybe then, he will be a true contender for the title, not just because his fights are fun to watch.