Arman Tsarukyan may regret passing on the chance to take on Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title. At UFC 300, Tsarukyan took on Charles Oliveira to determine the number one contender for the 155 lbs belt. While the fight was a closely contested affair, Tsarukyan prevailed over ‘Do Bronx’ with a split decision victory, catapulting him to the front of the line for a shot at the champion.

However, according to Dan Hooker, his decision to turn down the June 1st clash against Makhachev might not have been the correct play. In a recent interview, ‘The Hangman’ broke down how the UFC and CEO Dana White aren’t exactly fond of fighters turning down title shots, and Tsarukyan’s decision may lead to Conor McGregor or Max Holloway being offered a chance at the gold instead!

Arman Tsarukyan may get ‘skipped over’ for a lightweight title shot according to Dan Hooker

In his appearance on ‘The MMA Hour’ after UFC 300, Arman Tsarukyan revealed that the UFC had offered him a chance to take on Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 on June 1, but he wasn’t comfortable with the timeline for the bout. He stated, “When I left the Octagon, right away [UFC COO Hunter Campell] came and said, ‘June 1. Islam.’ I said I’ve got to think. It was, like, seven weeks [away], and I can’t jump too fast, so I’ve got to rest a little bit and have a camp.”

As such, in an interview with The Allstar, Dan Hooker was asked to share his thoughts on Tsarukyan’s decision and if he thought that turning down the fight was a mistake or not. Hooker stated, “The UFC do not look fondly on it, like, let’s just, let’s just put it that way… the UFC, they hate that sh*t. They do not look fondly on people turning down title fights…”

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‘The Hangman’ further highlighted the fact that due to Tsarukyan’s decision, Dustin Poirier will now be taking on Makhachev at UFC 302 instead. He went on to state, “But brother, like, McGregor or Chandler win, well one of them has to win at the end of June. They win, they immediately jump ahead of Arman. Max Holloway, because Arman turned that fight down, Max Holloway is immediately ahead of Arman in terms of the lightweight title picture. That’s just the way, the game is played brother.”

And so, Dan Hooker’s observation about the UFC’s likely response highlights the importance of seizing opportunities in a highly competitive division. However, Tsarukyan’s debut in the UFC in 2019 was a short-notice fight against Islam Makhachev and he lost the contest via a unanimous decision, despite putting in a solid showing.

As such, it does make sense for him to be apprehensive about taking on the rematch, with higher stakes this time, once again on short notice and without proper time to recover and game plan. However, he has also received flak from other lightweight fighters, including Michael Chandler who recently fired shots at Tsarukyan for his decision.

Tsarukyan fires back at Michael Chandler’s criticism 

In the aftermath of UFC 300, Arman Tsarukyan made the tough decision to decline the UFC’s offer of a title shot, prioritizing adequate preparation over seizing the moment. However, Tsarukyan’s choice was met with criticism from his peers, notably, fellow lightweight Michael Chandler.

In an appearance on The MMA Hour, Chandler stated, “I also don’t understand why he didn’t take that fight. I would’ve taken it, the sport moves very fast.” This drew a response from Tsarukyan on X who fired back by posting, “I don’t expect you to understand . We are not on the same level. I am here to be the champ. You are just waiting for a paycheck…”

Ultimately, while Tsarukyan’s decision may have invited criticism from some quarters, it’s a testament to his determination to navigate his career path strategically. Whether his choice proves to be the right one will unfold in the coming months. Do you think Arman Tsarukyan should have accepted the title shot despite the short turnaround time? Share your thoughts in the comments below!