Justin Gaethje Turned Down UFC Qatar Bout, Says Arman Tsarukyan Amid Title Shot Rumor

Top lightweight fighter Arman Tsarukyan talks about his upcoming fight and getting rejected by veteran Justin Gaethje. 

Justin Gaethje Turned Down UFC Qatar Bout, Says Arman Tsarukyan Amid Title Shot Rumor

Arman Tsarukyan believes Justin Gaethje hesitated to fight him (via X)

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Arman Tsarukyan has been out of action for over a year, leaving fans waiting for his highly anticipated UFC return. His previous appearance came at UFC 300, where the Armenian defeated former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira via split decision. Now, Tsarukyan is set to make his long-awaited comeback, facing Dan Hooker in the thrilling UFC Qatar main event.

At UFC 311, Tsarukyan lost his chance to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight championship due to a last-minute injury withdrawal. Following that incident, Dana White repeatedly declined Tsarukyan’s title fight requests, leaving the Armenian contender desperate for another high-profile opponent. 

Currently, Hooker appears to be the perfect matchup given his impressive winning streak and ranking, fulfilling Tsarukyan’s demand. Interestingly, Tsarukyan revealed that Justin Gaethje was also offered the fight, but the former interim lightweight champion decided not to accept.

I heard Gaethje said no and Hooker said yes… Gaethje would be better but for me doesn’t matter. Both of them are easy money for me. [Gaethje] knows he could lose to me.

Arman Tsarukyan via The Ariel Helwani Show 

Gaethje has made it clear that his only focus now is securing a title shot against the champion Ilia Topuria. The veteran lightweight last competed in an all-out war against Rafael Fiziev, where he earned a unanimous decision victory. Since that hard-fought win, Gaethje has even threatened retirement from the UFC if the promotion denies him the championship opportunity.

Recent reports have surfaced suggesting a potential matchup between Gaethje and Topuria, though nothing official has been confirmed yet. Among the critics is Tsarukyan, who believes Gaethje’s current ranking and limited recent wins don’t justify skipping other contenders in line. On the other hand, ‘Ahalkalakets’ has also contested to fight Topuria and did everything to provoke the champion. 

Topuria denied Arman Tsarukyan a title shot, raising speculation that the champion might be ducking a matchup with him. Tsarukyan claims that, among all top lightweight contenders, only he possesses the wrestling skills required to defeat Topuria inside the octagon. Before challenging Topuria, however, the Armenian must first resolve his upcoming showdown against Dana Hooker at UFC Qatar. 

Arman Tsarukyan to get Khamzat Chimaev’s backing at UFC Qatar

Arman Tsarukyan and Khamzat Chimaev have been training partners in recent times, frequently sparring together and sharing strategies in their fight camps. Tsarukyan was notably present in Chimaev’s corner at UFC 319 against Dricus Du Plessis, offering guidance throughout the bout. It was Tsarukyan’s idea for Chimaev to focus primarily on his wrestling, maximizing control time. 

Arman Tsarukyan and Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 319
Arman Tsarukyan and Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 319 (via X)

Although some fans criticized Chimaev’s cautious wrestling-heavy approach, the strategy undeniably proved effective, cementing him as the dominant champion.  Now, the ‘Borz’ is committed to helping Tsarukyan similarly, and the Armenian recently discussed his training partner’s involvement in his upcoming camp.

He wants to come and help me, but I’m saying, ‘Khamzat, your weight is more than 200 pounds, you’re gonna hurt me!’ He’s gonna come and help me. He’s always asking where to come, saying if I need sparring partners, I’m gonna send everybody from Chechnya to help you. 

Arman Tsarukyan via The Ariel Helwani Show 

Going into UFC Qatar, Arman Tsarukyan is the overwhelming betting favorite to defeat Dan Hooker in their main event showdown. The fighters share a rivalry, which has only intensified over time, adding personal stakes and tension to their upcoming clash. Hooker has expressed his hatred for Tsarukyan, declaring his intention to knock the Armenian out in front of the Qatar crowd.

Although the Kiwi is known for extreme durability, he has historically struggled against elite wrestlers, giving Tsarukyan an advantage. While Tsarukyan hasn’t competed professionally in months, he has stayed in peak condition through frequent BJJ competitions. Ultimately, the bout will reveal who emerges victorious and whether the winner positions themselves for the next lightweight title opportunity.

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