Justin Gaethje’s Title Shot Drama with Dana White’s UFC Brutally Mocked by Arman Tsarukyan

Top-ranked UFC 155-pounder Arman Tsarukyan racks up honors for ‘amazing’ Justin Gaethje, retorts him to retire soon in light of pending title shot.

Justin Gaethje’s Title Shot Drama with Dana White’s UFC Brutally Mocked by Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan mocks UFC lightweight peer Justin Gaethje to retire (Source: X)

Top lightweight standout Justin Gaethje is out the door if he does not get a title shot next; that’s according to his longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz. For now, that solemn space goes to Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira scrapping for the vacant belt at UFC 317 PPV main event during IFW Festivities week. One name that just can’t give a hoot about Gaethje forewarning is Arman Tsarukyan.

For one, Arman Tsarukyan has been loud and vocal, bashing him for getting it at all, given how he crumbled last April during the UFC 300 PPV card. But other than the “BMF” setting contested at 155 pounds at that time, Gaethje is 3-2 in his last few. For another, ‘Ahalkalakets’ himself was a UFC 155-pound top seed not that long ago.

Hence, with UFC 317 now booked and edging near, he has designs to get back a UFC lightweight top-contender bout without Justin Gaethje. So, the Armenian UFC 155-pounder was to shed no tears if the competition were to hang it up; he retorted as much in a tweet:

Congratulations on amazing career. Enjoy your retirement.

Arman Tsarukyan via X (@ArmanUfc) replying to a post by @Home_of_Fight

During UFC 313 PPV Media Day fighter interviews, Justin Gaethje supported the purport of Topuria’s star power, warranting him a shot. He did get over blockbuster names like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in rather violent fashion. But the high-octane human “Highlight” has been awarded 14 fight-night bonuses in 14 ballot appearances.

His Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC competition count [9] also tie for the third-most. Not that long ago, Gaethje had the blessing for a title crack from champ-camp Team Islam Makhachev (also inclusive of manager Abdelaziz). After defeating Rafael Fiziev in a PPV thriller rematch in front of the reported 18,869 in attendance, Gaethje even got another $50k to his name.

Hence, he was hoping for a title shot and some love on the roster next. but so does No. 1-ranked lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan. The Armenian star even has a win over Oliveira and history against Makhachev; Elevation Fight Team’s Gaethje lacks both. Hence, it’s off to the races, and Tsarukyan doesn’t mind the rival dropping out.

Justin Gaethje once stood down and gave up lightweight title shot to UFC 300 PPV winner, feat. Arman Tsarukyan

Assuming he defeated hard-chin big boxer Holloway, Justin Gaethje knew a quick rebound was not all that possible for him. It was on the same line of peer Dan Hooker welcoming hospital visits and bloddbaths if he were to meet Gaethje. Plus, the nature of a BMF title fight itself warrants that it be visceral and brutal and warrior-like.

Justin Gaethje once conceded title gold opportunity to Arman Tsarukyan
Justin Gaethje once conceded title gold opportunity to Arman Tsarukyan (Source: X)

Then-reigning champ Makhachev wanted his next 155-pound title defense somewhere along June, for the UFC 302 PPV offering (and he got it). But Highlight wasn’t keen to return from a Holloway fight until the promotion’s November schedule at MSG.

While then-No. 3-ranked Dustin Poirier was an option, Gaethje considered the Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan winner to get the title deed. Hence, the American star was willing to let go of that chance for a milder, ho-hum opportunity and title talk later in the day.

Ideally, they’re calling this Oliveira-Tsarukyan fight a title eliminator, so the winner of that fight fights…In June…then I fight the winner of that in preferably Madison Square Garden in November, …That sounds like a perfect timeline for me. I’ll definitely have my time to rest, recovery and retrain myself to get ready for that fight. That’s the perfect situation for me. We’ll see if Oliveira sh*ts the bed again. I think if Tsarukyan wins he takes it because they are calling this a title eliminator.

Justin Gaethje to MMAJunkie in UFC 300 pre-fight media inteview

A lot has happened since then, and the dynamic has gravely shifted. The title tectonics now pits Gaethje and Tsarukyan, possibly against each other. However, with Makhachev making a shift, the UFC execs are unlikely to make any more big lightweight decisions any soon, specifically before IFW. Until UFC 317 is done and over, the next 155-pound title scene is up for grabs and open to imagination.

Also Read: