UFC 300’s Arman Tsarukyan Details Why He Declined Title Shot vs. Islam Makhachev
Tsarukyan admitted it was 'hard to say no' to an opportunity of a lifetime, but it's one he expects to come later.
It didn't take long for the UFC to approach Arman Tsarukyan about fighting for the title.
The Armenian talent escaped from the jaws of defeat on multiple occasions at UFC 300, edging out a split decision win over former champion and #1 contender Charles Oliveira. Tsarukyan would outstrike and outwrestle Oliveira to secure his place at the top of the lightweight division.
Of course, the job's not yet finished as Tsarukyan eyes a long-awaited rematch with defending champ Islam Makhachev, this time for undisputed gold.
However, it looks as though Tsarukyan will have to wait a while for his title opportunity as UFC CEO Dana White announced right after the fights that Makhachev will meet Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 on June 1st.
As it turns out, "The Diamond" wasn't the only option on the promotion's table. On Monday, Tsarukyan revealed on 'The MMA Hour' that UFC CBO Hunter Campbell offered him a title shot, a quick one at that, which Tsarukyan chose to decline.
"When I left the Octagon, right away, Hunter came and said, June 1st, Islam. I said, I gotta think. Date [from now] was like seven weeks left and I gotta, I [can't] jump too fast, so I gotta rest a little bit and then have a camp. If it was like June 20 or like end of June, yeah, I would take that fight because I have like at least 10 weeks. Two weeks rest and eight weeks for preparation."
In 2019, a 22 year-old Tsarukyan made his UFC debut on short-notice against a rising contender in Makhachev. Tsarukyan gave Makhachev quite the fight, but ultimately lost on the scorecards by unanimous decision.
Almost five years from the exact day, Tsarukyan knows he can't afford to make the same mistake, especially when there's a championship opportunity on the line.
"Why I gotta take the same risk like I did first fight?" Tsarukyan added. "It's the same thing, short notice, I wanna be ready and I wanna have a full training camp. And why, if I am number one contender, why I gotta take a risk? Of course, if I'm like in, in top 10 and someone say before seven weeks like can you fight on June 1st? Of course, I'm going to take the risk. But like, I just beat former champion, [future] hall-of-fame fighter and like, it doesn't make sense."
"It was hard to say no, but like, I know I'm gonna fight next for the title with the winner of that fight," Tsarukyan said in regards to Makhachev vs. Poirier.
Charles Oliveira isn't the only fight Arman Tsarukyan got into at UFC 300. During his walk-out, the top-ranked contender threw a punch at a fan who gave him the middle finger.
At the UFC 300 post-fight press conference, White jokingly said the UFC 'probably' might get sued. Fortunately for all parties involved, the fan in question doesn't plan on taking such measures.
"I will not sue, that never crossed my mind," the fan Obed Ardon told Bloody Elbow of the incident. "My first thought was I hope I don’t get kicked out. Thank you Uncle Dana for blessing us with an amazing 300 card… and can you bless me and my brothers up with tickets to UFC 303?”
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