Tsarukyan rejects UFC fight offer: ‘I was offended by the proposal’

The number one ranked UFC lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan, is going through a bit of a rough patch in his career. Earlier this year, Arman was scheduled to fight for the UFC lightweight championship. Unfortunately, Arman got injured two days before the event, and just a day before, he officially canceled his appearance. The back injury was too severe for him to compete, and Renato Moicano stepped in to save the main event of UFC 311.

After canceling his appearance so late, Tsarukyan had to suffer some consequences. Dana White announced that Arman is no longer waiting for a "title shot", but will have to fight for his chance again. Although he is still the number one ranked contender and currently has no more legitimate candidate for a match against Islam Makhachev, Arman will need at least one victory before he gets another chance.

Tsarukyan did not even particularly oppose the decision. He is aware that he must be able to beat anyone if he wants to get the belt, and he is also aware that he "messed up" with his injury just two days before the fight. Arman is ready to defeat one of the high-ranking challengers to solidify his status as the next challenger, but it seems that he is not willing to fight anyone.

Tsarukyan reveals UFC plans

In an interview with Sport24 (translation of the Championship Rounds website), Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC recently offered him his next opponent. Mateusz Gamrot is the fighter they wanted to pair him with, but Tsarukyan turned down the offer.

- They offered Gamrot. What is the point of that fight? If anyone needs that fight, then it is him, not me. Why would he get such a gift? They offered me to fight in Abu Dhabi in July, and our fight would be the 'main event'. I refused because that is not the opponent I want to fight. He is ranked lower than me and I don't see why I would fight him just for the money. I have to fight someone who is in the top 5 or 6, because such a win guarantees me a title shot. There is no point in fighting anyone. I am number 1 and why would I fight someone who is tenth. Nobody gave me such gifts when I was tenth. I fought a guy ranked nine, then a guy who is eighth and so on until I got to the top. I don't want to risk my position just like that. The UFC actually made me angry when they offered me such an opponent - revealed Arman.