Arman Tsarukyan has been suffering ever since he defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 to become the number 1 lightweight contender in the MMA promotion. This ensured that he would become the next fighter to compete against Islam Makhachev for the lightweight championship title. However, an altercation right before the fight sent him into troubled waters. Although the scuffle was verbal in the beginning, it soon turned physical. As a result, the NSAC decided to put a ban on the lightweight fighter for 9 months. 

But there was a way for Tsarukyan to reduce his sentence. Well, I know you know, but just for the sake of those who don’t, the Armenian star was asked to make a video on anti-bullying. This would reduce his sentence to 3 months, allowing him to fight Makhachev sooner. Needless to say, Tsarukyan had no choice but to accept the terms.

Arman Tsarukyan agrees to the NSAC terms to fight Islam Makhachev

In an interview with Yaroslav Stepanov, Tsarukyan confirmed that he would record the anti-bullying video. He ensured that the fighting community would stay entertained at UFC 308 on the 26th of October. The interviewer asked if he would have to wait for Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad to conclude the fight first because he might have to wait if Edwards won. 

But the Armenian fighter seemed pretty sure that he would be Makhachev’s next opponent. He said, “No, they won’t because we have a verbal agreement that I’m fighting for the title. I don’t know if he [Islam Makhachev] was told that. But they told me I’m next in line.” However, it wasn’t Makhachev who was in Tsarukyan’s mind. Instead, he was just in it for the belt. In case the Dagestani fighter had to move up in the weight class, Tsarukyan asked the UFC to either vacate the belt or let him have the interim belt.

Tsarukyan continued, “I will shoot that [anti-bullying] video at the beginning of August and my disqualification ends on September 13. I just need to make that video. Then hopefully, I’m going to fight at the end of October or early November. I have to do it [promo video] to help my career and it doesn’t bother me. It will only do good for my career. And actually, it doesn’t make any sense to put your hands on someone and waste your energy when you are walking out for an actual fight. The problem is I’m a hot-tempered guy.”

With the title shot in his mind, ‘Ahalkalakets’ recently pulled out a game plan for defeating the lightweight champ. And it involved Khamzat Chimaev. 

‘Ahalkalakets’ brings in Khamzat Chimaev to defeat Makhachev

Hype Reality, a reality show that is just like The Ultimate Fighter but for Russia, has made Chimaev and Tsarukyan the two team captains. This means that the duo will train their teams together and might even face each other in the arena. But this also raises the possibility of the two training together. As per the #1 lightweight contender, Chimaev might just be the key to defeating Makhachev.

“Of course, why not? Khamzat fights well and will test his strength. To be honest, he is there, and if there’s an opportunity to train with him, it would be good. Since he is tall and can work in a left-handed stance, I will ask him to train with me. In general, his build is similar to Islam’s,” Tsarukyan opined.

Without a doubt, if Tsarukyan joined hands with the Chechen Wolf, Makhachev might be in some big trouble, don’t you think? What are your thoughts on Tsarukyan’s move? Do you believe that he did the right thing? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.