Arman Tsarukyan insists he’s not suffering from the fallout of UFC 311.
Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) withdrew from his lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev just one day before UFC 311 in January. UFC CEO Dana White went on to say that Tsarukyan would have to earn his way back to a title fight. The 29-year-old will look to regain that spot when he takes on Dan Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 265 (ESPN+) main event at ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar.
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Heading in, Tsarukyan thinks he’s in a prime position to get the next title shot.
“I mean, they want to make me a champion because they put me in the main event, and they gave me a good fighter,” Tsarukyan said in an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri. “So, they’re trying to make me a star to fight for the title, and they treat me very well. They gave me a new contract, and everything is going good. My relationship is the same, and that’s all.”
Tsarukyan is in the title race with lightweight contenders Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. Although he thinks a win solidifies him as No. 1 contender, Tsarukyan said during Wednesday’s media day that it wouldn’t surprise him if Pimblett leapfrogged him.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Arman Tsarukyan says UFC title-fight withdrawal drama in the past
