Arman Tsarukyan, the current No. 1 contender in the lightweight division, recently declined a short-notice opportunity to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. After his impressive victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300, Tsarukyan opted not to face Makhachev, who eventually fought and defeated Dustin Poirier.
Chael Sonnen, a former UFC fighter and commentator, expressed surprise at Tsarukyan’s decision. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen questioned the historical wisdom of turning down fights in the UFC. He emphasized that fighters in Tsarukyan’s position are vulnerable to having their title opportunities taken away.
Chael Sonnen Explains Why Arman Tsarukyan Made a Mistake By Refusing Makhahcev
“Somebody in that spot would be very vulnerable to have that spot taken,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “Tsarukyan was offered Islam. The very fight that Dustin Poirier just did was offered to Tsarukyan. … I was surprised that he said no. It’s not a good idea, historically speaking, in the UFC – and this is a 99 percent: It’s not a good idea to turn down fights.”
Sonnen also noted that no other lightweight contender has called out Makhachev or attempted to challenge Arman Tsarukyan’s title contention spot. Despite Makhachev’s willingness to rematch Tsarukyan, the Armenian fighter may have missed out on his chance for a title shot due to this decision.
Arman Tsarukyan says if he fought the version of Islam Makhachev that fought Dustin Poirier at #UFC302, it would be a “very easy fight” for him 😳
He also says he could out-wrestle that version of Islam
🎥 @arielhelwani #TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/qTb6ZqNVcw
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 5, 2024
The lightweight division remains competitive, and Arman Tsarukyan’s choice not to face Makhachev has raised eyebrows. Fans and pundits alike are curious about the implications of this surprising turn of events.
In the end, the UFC landscape is ever-changing, and fighters must carefully consider their decisions. Tsarukyan’s refusal to fight Makhachev highlights the delicate balance between risk and reward in the world of mixed martial arts.
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