The UFC lightweight division is currently a logjam of hungry contenders, but undisputed champion Justin Gaethje isn't shedding any tears for the fighters left waiting in line.
In particular, Gaethje has zero sympathy for top contender Arman Tsarukyan, who many believe has already earned his shot at the undisputed gold. According to the champion, Tsarukyan has nobody to blame but himself for his current position outside the title picture.
The Weight-Cut Accusation
Tsarukyan was originally scheduled to fight then-champion Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. However, just days before the bout, Tsarukyan withdrew due to a reported back injury and was replaced by Renato Moicano.
Gaethje, speaking on Demetrious Johnson's podcast, openly doubted the legitimacy of that injury. Instead, he alleged that Tsarukyan simply failed to manage his weight.
"We all make our own bed," Gaethje said. "He was going to fight Islam Makhachev for the belt. The truth is he wasn’t going to make weight so he dropped out. If it was his back and there was a medical report on paper with the UFC, then he wouldn’t be suffering like this."
Gaethje questioned how an athlete could realistically injure their back while strictly cutting weight, suggesting Tsarukyan's body was simply shutting down.
Why Tsarukyan is in This Position
By pulling out of the championship fight, Tsarukyan lost his golden opportunity and allowed other contenders to leapfrog him. Because there is seemingly no official UFC medical backing to satisfy Gaethje's standards, the champion believes the 29-year-old contender deserves to wait.
In Gaethje's eyes, pulling out of a title fight under questionable circumstances carries consequences—and Tsarukyan is currently paying the price by having to take another risky contender fight.
What's Next at UFC 331
Tsarukyan must now rebuild his momentum at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, where he is scheduled to face dangerous prospect Mauricio Ruffy.
While Gaethje expects Tsarukyan to rely on his elite grappling to secure a victory, the champion made it clear he won't be cheering for him.
"Most likely, Arman’s going to take him down," Gaethje admitted. "I hope Arman gets hit hard. It would be fun to see. I don’t hate Arman. I’d rather him get hit hard than get on top of [Ruffy] and win."
