Bold talk is nothing new in MMA, but Arman Tsarukyan is making it clear he sees himself as the next man to shape the sport’s future. The top-ranked UFC lightweight said Islam Makhachev could be nearing the end of his run, and he believes his own moment is coming soon. With UFC CEO Dana White previously saying Makhachev is expected to fight again in August, the timing only adds fuel to the discussion about what comes next at the top of the promotion.
“I think Islam will leave MMA after two fights. One or two more fights — and that’s it. In a year, I’ll take this sport under my control,” Tsarukyan said.
For the lightweight division, that kind of statement carries real weight. Tsarukyan has long been viewed as one of the most dangerous contenders in the class, and an eventual title path involving Makhachev has hovered over the division for years. If Makhachev is truly approaching the final stretch of his career, the race to become the next face of 155 pounds becomes even more urgent — and Tsarukyan clearly sees himself at the front of it.
There is also history here. Tsarukyan gave Makhachev a tough fight in their first UFC meeting back in 2019, and his growth since then has made a rematch one of the most talked-about possibilities among hardcore fans. In the American MMA media landscape, Tsarukyan is often framed as the kind of all-around threat who could eventually force the UFC’s hand, especially because of his pace, wrestling transitions, and improved confidence on the microphone.
Now the focus shifts to Makhachev’s expected August return and whether Tsarukyan can keep building his case as the man best positioned to inherit the division if the champion’s exit really is on the horizon.