If Justin Gaethje desires a title shot, he’ll should undergo Arman Tsarukyan.
With an enormous win over short-notice substitute opponent Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313, Gaethje believes he must be the following man up for a shot at reigning light-weight titleholder Islam Makhachev.
Gaethje’s solely loss within the final two years got here in opposition to Max Holloway in a BMF title conflict at UFC 300. Earlier than that, he’d received back-to-back bouts in opposition to Fiziev and Dustin Poirier. Including a second profession win over Fiziev on Saturday, ‘The Highlight’ might have a compelling argument, however Tsarukyan merely isn’t shopping for it.
“You barely got past #11 on short notice, and before that, you got sent to the shadow realm,” Tsarukyan wrote in response. “If you really want to be the #1 contender and fight for the belt, you have to go through me first,” Tsarukyan replied to Gaethje.
Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje prone to be handed up for ilia topuria
Tsarukyan was initially scheduled to problem Makhachev at UFC 311 earlier than withdrawing mere hours earlier than the combat feigning a again damage. In consequence, Renato Moicano was promoted to the night’s primary occasion, taking Tsarukyan’s spot.
In the meantime, Tsarukyan must return to the drafting board and decide up one other massive win earlier than the UFC brass is able to give him one other title alternative.
In fact, each Gaethje and Tsarukyan will seemingly be handed up in favor of former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria who vacated his title earlier this 12 months to maneuver up and conquer one other division.
