Arman Tsarukyan is looking forward to Islam Makhachev’s retirement, as he expects to become the new dominant force in the UFC afterward.
Tsarukyan’s initial UFC encounter was against Makhachev, a fight he lost by unanimous decision. A highly anticipated rematch was scheduled for UFC 311, with Makhachev as the lightweight champion, but Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw due to a hernia.
In the interim, Makhachev faced Renato Moicano after Tsarukyan’s withdrawal. Makhachev secured a first-round submission victory over Moicano in the UFC 311 main event, achieved four successful title defenses, set records, and subsequently relinquished his lightweight title to pursue championship status in a second division.
Later that year, Makhachev made a successful welterweight debut by defeating Jack Della Maddalena, thus becoming a two-division UFC champion.
The reigning welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king is slated to make his first defense of the 170-pound title in August.
Meanwhile, Tsarukyan, the top contender in the UFC lightweight division, has expressed interest in facing BMF champion Charles Oliveira next and has also offered to be a backup fighter for the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje lightweight title unification bout on June 14.
Tsarukyan has shown no inclination to move up to the welterweight division, and the 34-year-old Makhachev has no plans to return to the lightweight division. Consequently, a future confrontation between them in the near future is unlikely.
During a recent appearance on the Full Send Podcast, when questioned about the possibility of a rematch with Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan stated:
“I believe [Islam] will retire in about two fights. One or two more fights, and he’ll be gone. But me, I will take over this sport within a year.”
Tsarukyan further commented that he will soon become the face of the UFC and that once he secures the undisputed championship belt, he eagerly anticipates traveling the world with it.