Tsarukyan says UFC promised title shot in early 2027, rules out featherweight move

MMA-TV Newsroom Summarized with AI Yesterday at 2:48 AM Updated Today at 12:39 AM AI checked Today at 3:50 AM

The bottom line

Tsarukyan says the UFC told him he will fight for the lightweight title in February or March 2027 and rules out dropping to 145 to face Evloev; no bout is announced.

From 4 reports by 3 outlets

Latest Tsarukyan rules out featherweight move and Evloev fight Today at 12:39 AM 3 outlets

Tsarukyan says UFC promised title shot in early 2027, rules out featherweight move — Photo via Sherdog · added Today at 12:39 AM

What you need to know

Tsarukyan says the UFC told him he will get a lightweight title fight in February or March 2027
He was given two possible opponents: champion Justin Gaethje, or another name if Gaethje retires
He says he will not drop to 145 pounds, ending talk of a fight with Movsar Evloev
The UFC has not announced a bout

Reported, not confirmed

Tsarukyan says the UFC told him he will fight for the lightweight title in February or March 2027. MMA Mania
Tsarukyan says he was offered two possible opponents: Justin Gaethje, or another fighter if Gaethje retires. MMA Mania
Tsarukyan says he is not going down to 145 pounds, ruling out a fight with Movsar Evloev. Sherdog
Alexander Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev in round two at UFC 333 to keep the featherweight title. Knockout Daily
A brawl involving Tsarukyan, Dillon Danis, Khamzat Chimaev and their teams broke out at the RAF 14 press conference, and Ariel Helwani said a security guard was bleeding. Knockout Daily

Yesterday at 2:48 AM

Arman Tsarukyan says UFC officials have told him he will fight for the lightweight title in February or March of 2027, according to MMA Mania. He made the comments in an interview with Ariel Helwani. The UFC has not announced a bout, and other reports did not say who delivered the confirmation or name a date or opponent.

He said he was given two possible opponents: champion Justin Gaethje, or another fighter if Gaethje retires. Gaethje has contemplated retirement, and Tsarukyan believes he will step away. "If UFC pay him so much money he will fight," Tsarukyan said. MMA Mania named Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett as possible opponents for a vacant title.

Tsarukyan also closed the door on a featherweight move. Asked about fighting Movsar Evloev for the 145-pound title, he said he is not going down to that weight, according to Sherdog. Evloev had reportedly called him out earlier in the day, then lost to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333, so that fight is off the table for now.

Summary: Tsarukyan says the UFC told him he will fight for the lightweight title in February or March 2027 and rules out dropping to 145 to face Evloev; no bout is announced.

Key points (one per line): Tsarukyan says the UFC told him he will get a lightweight title fight in February or March 2027
He was given two possible opponents: champion Justin Gaethje, or another name if Gaethje retires
He says he will not drop to 145 pounds, ending talk of a fight with Movsar Evloev
The UFC has not announced a bout