Perennial contender, Arman Tsarukyan has today claimed he will serve as the official backup fighter to next weekend’s UFC 317 vacant lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria, and former opponent, Charles Oliveira during International Fight Week.
Tsarukyan, sidelined since his slated return at the beginning of the year, was set to fight soon-to-be former champion, Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 back in January, until he withdrew from the clash.
Set to rematch the dominant Russian force, Armenian contender, Tsarukyan withdrew from the pairing, citing a back injury induced by weight cutting ahead of his UFC 311 title charge.