UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan is on a two-fight winning streak, and wants to fight Michael Chandler next. Tsarukyan recently called Chandler out, and told The Schmo that he wants to take out a star in the division as a major boost for his career.
“That fight, it makes sense. That fight give me a lot of opportunity. Michael Chandler, he’s a star in our division. He has a lot of experience and I need his name on my list. I wanna beat him, I wanna knock him out and show who is the new generation.”
Rising UFC Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan Doubles Down on Michael Chandler Callout
Tsarukyan dispatched Joaquim Silva this past weekend, and has no shortage of confidence in his ability to do the same against Michael Chandler. If he can’t secure a fight against Michael Chandler, he wants a top 5 ranked fighter, arguing that he earned it with his latest performance.
“Definitely it’s gonna be someone from top 5. They can’t give me someone from, like, top 15 or unranked because I deserve [after] I finished this guy and I am here. They gotta give me someone from the top and I want to get the title shot.
I feel so confident because when I spar with fighters, I feel so much better than them. I just feel like I can beat everybody and I know if they’re gonna give me someone from top 5, I’m gonna show my performance and my shape.”
Tsarukyan is aware that he’s a rising star in the division. He was on a tear until two fights ago, when he lost to Mateusz Gamrot. His last loss in the promotion before that was to the current champion: Islam Makhachev. That was four years ago, and Tsarukyan wants to settle the score. If he gets himself a UFC title in the process, even better.
“I wanna fight for the title with Islam Makhachev because we have a story. My first fight was with Islam Makhachev. It was short notice and hopefully, when I’m gonna fight with him, they gonna give me a lot of time for preparing then I’m gonna beat him.”
In arguably the most competitive division in the sport, with some serious talent – including former title holders – separating the #8 ranked Tsarukyan from the champ, it’s an uphill battle to get there.
That said, if Tsarukyan is able to secure a fight against Michael Chandler, a fan favorite and former Bellator champion, he’ll be on the right track.
