Arman Tsarukyan walked into UFC Qatar knowing exactly what he needed to do. After nearly a year and a half without a fight, a back injury before UFC 311, backup duty at UFC 317, and months of watching the lightweight division reshuffle itself, he finally had the chance to reclaim his momentum. Dan Hooker promised to test the aura around him. Tsarukyan waved that off. “He came here to make money, but I came here to be contender number one and to show everybody I deserve to fight for the title, we have a different goal.” he said before fight night.

But the question was simple: could he dominate on command? He answered that within minutes. Tsarukyan sliced through ‘The Hangman’ at UFC Qatar with knees, takedowns, elbows, and patience sharpened by frustration. A reverse-guillotine scramble? He shrugged it off.

Another guillotine attempt minutes later? Same fate. By the time he cinched up the arm-triangle in round two, Hooker had no choice but to tap. It was clinical. It was angry. It was the performance of a man tired of waiting for his turn. And with the win finally under his belt, Tsarukyan wasted no breath on politeness when asked who should be next!

That’s where lightweight champion Ilia Topuria enters the story, whether he likes it or not. In his post-fight interview, a clip that quickly made the rounds on X via RedCornerMMA, Tsarukyan claimed Topuria wanted no part of him as he stated, “He said if you’re gonna give me Arman, I’m gonna leave this title. So he should leave the title and give me anybody. I’m not gonna look for easy fights. I can fight with anybody and UFC knows I’m like open to anybody and I don’t know. He’s trying to not call my name. He knows that the number one and the real fighter, it’s me.”

Soon after, he fired off another public message on X, writing, “Me VS Ilia is the best fight to make across any division. No more running el pato.” It was a not-so-subtle dig at the reigning champion, one that lit up social media.

To understand Arman Tsarukyan’s urgency, you have to rewind. He was supposed to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title, but he pulled out with an injury, then he showed up unused as backup. In the meantime, Makhachev relinquished the belt entirely to chase welterweight gold, and Ilia Topuria seized the vacant throne by flatlining Charles Oliveira. The division moved on without him, and that’s the wound Tsarukyan is trying to stitch shut with force, and in the post-fight interview, he also revealed that he’s willing to step back into the Octagon as quickly as possible!

Arman Tsarukyan is ready for a quick turnaround to take on Ilia Topuria after UFC Qatar win

Fresh off his submission win over Dan Hooker, Tsarukyan didn’t just demand Ilia Topuria; he revealed he’s ready to jump back into camp almost immediately. But can a fighter really turn around that quickly after a two-round war? And should a champion expect anything less from the No. 1 contender?

With speculation swirling about Topuria potentially defending his belt in January for the UFC’s debut with Paramount, many assumed the timeline would be too tight. Tsarukyan shut that down instantly. At the post-fight presser, he told reporters, “I can rest one week, fly to the U.S. and stay there two months. It’s enough time to get ready. I didn’t get any injury, thank God. They have to say that.”

Then came the real message: he’s hoping the UFC announces “me fighting main event vs. Topuria” as early as Tuesday. Vegas or Los Angeles, he doesn’t care. The clock is ticking, and he wants in.

But the runway isn’t clear. Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett have both lined up behind Topuria, each angling for the same moment Arman Tsarukyan insists he’s earned. Still, with a five-fight winning streak and a finish over Hooker, Tsarukyan believes the résumé speaks louder than the noise.

And after the fight, even the rivalry with ‘The Hangman’ melted away as he further shared, “If you didn’t take this fight, I wouldn’t be here. Thank you.’ Really, it was only one guy that would fight me, Dan Hooker. I said thank you to him because of the experience, money, attention, everything.”

Now the lightweight division stands at a crossroads. On one side is Arman Tsarukyan, fresh off a statement win, untouched by injury, and ready to turn around in weeks if that’s what the title shot requires. On the other is, Ilia Topuria, a champion suddenly confronted with an opponent who isn’t just calling him out, he’s questioning his legitimacy if he doesn’t accept!