Arman Tsarukyan told Islam Makhachev rematch ‘will take place early next year’

The likelihood of Islam Makhachev returning before 2025 isn’t sounding good.

Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Lightweight champion and pound-for-pound best fighter (unless you’re Dana White), Makhachev, was hopeful he’d get to make his dream of fighting in Madison Square Garden a reality. However, a lingering ligament injury in his hand is keeping Makhachev from landing on the November 2024 pay-per-view (PPV) event.

Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, recently told Islam Babadzhanov that Makhachev is still recovering and has been out of training. Therefore, a December return isn’t expected either and the No. 1 contender, Arman Tsarukyan, is also expecting to have to wait until next year for his first shot at UFC gold.

Red Corner MMA.

“Yes, it’s from the UFC, but this is the nature of the sport,” he continued. “Everything can change in a moment and that’s why I am keeping myself in shape, I am in camp now. I don’t care when this fight happens — even if it does in a year, I will keep working and moving towards this fight… It’s not about fighting Islam for me; it’s about becoming the champion.”

Tsarukyan, 27, has remained adamant that his next fight will be for a title whether interim or undisputed. Ultimately, the delay has made things easier outside of the Octagon for Tsarukyan after his suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) for his UFC 300 fan altercation. Nine months or six months with an anti-bullying public service announcement, he won’t return sooner than that.

If an interim title does get made, Tsarukyan sees obvious choices to be matched with. That doesn’t mean he believes any are worthy of the opportunity, though.

“Any of the top five could fight for the interim title,” Tsasukyan said. “[Dan] Hooker, [Michael] Chandler, [Charles] Oliveira, [Justin] Gaethje or [Dustin] Poirier, all of them can fight for an interim title — although they don’t deserve it.

“Four of them are coming from a loss,” he continued. “Only Hooker had a win, and Chandler I think, although Chandler’s had his last victory over Tony Ferguson.”