After a dominant win against a rising Demir Ismagulov, Arman Tsarukyan looks ready to fight a top 5 lightweight. The talented wrestler is still only 26, and his skills are improving with every fight. It looks like time is the only thing standing in the way of being a top contender at 155.
It looked easy, the way Tsarukyan dominated Ismagulov. And Ismagulov isn’t a nobody, he was coming off a scary 19-fight win streak, 5 coming in the UFC. Tsarukyan on the other end, felt like he was coming off a 7-fight win streak, even though his last fight against Mateusz Gamrot officially counts as a loss, he and many believe that ‘Akhalkalakets’ should’ve won that fight.
His last loss before Gamrot, came in his UFC debut at age 22. He got invited on short notice to fight none other than… Islam Makhachev, current UFC lightweight champion. Many believe this was Islam’s toughest fight, as Tsarukyan showed real flashes of wrestling ability early in his career. His takedown defense was frustrating and has become even better over time.
On the other hand, he has been aggressive in pursuing takedowns. 7 takedowns on Ismagulov showed his new and improved takedown ability, along with his striking setting the takedowns up. His striking has become faster, and more respectable, and he has been hiding his takedown attempts well after these strikes. But for now, that’s all his striking really is. Set ups to take the opposition down. It’s improving, however, and he has tons of time. He’s still only 26.
What’s next?
He now wants an opponent in the top 5. He has publicly called out Michael Chandler and Justin gaethje, whom he thinks he can easily beat. He claims those two alongside Poirier only fight each other, and thus maintain their top 5 status. And it’s true. There comes a time when those guys need to defend their top 5 status against up-and-coming fighters.
No talks yet, but he has recently tweeted at Charles Oliveira, who wants to fight in the spring. Oliveira is coming off a dominant run at 155, which was snapped by Islam submitting him back in October. It’s a risky fight for Tsarukyan, but it is for Oliveira as well. He believes he’s one fight away from another title shot, as the next fight for the lightweight belt is featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski looking to challenge Makhachev and achieve double champ status.
Tsarukyan beating Oliveira would propel him towards a near title shot in the future, but a steady way of beating Chandler or Gaethje is also possible. He absolutely wants a top 5 fight. Dos Anjos and Fiziev are also talked about recently, but they want a top 5 shot as well. It’s time that the so-called best UFC fighters defend their status. And then maybe, Tsarukyan can make his way to being a real challenger at 155.
Courtside 