Arman Tsarukyan believes he is likely to be the next man up for Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight ace Ilia Topuria.
Tsarukyan (22-3) was originally scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the title earlier this year before being forced out with an injury. A disappointed Dana White made it clear that Tsarukyan wouldn’t get the next title shot. When Makhachev vacated the belt, it went up for grabs between Topuria (17-0) and Charles Oliveira, who had lost to Tsarukyan in his previous outing. Topuria knocked out Oliveira to win the title at UFC 317 this past June.