The start of 2025 was anything but smooth for UFC head honcho Dana White. His first pay-per-view event of the year, UFC 311, faced serious setbacks due to the California fires. The UFC scheduled the event at the newly built Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, as the state battled five fire outbreaks during the first week of the new year, causing devastating losses in lives and property. Fortunately, the authorities contained the fires.

However, just a day before the event, lightweight title challenger Arman Tsarukyan, scheduled to face reigning champion Islam Makhachev for his fourth title defense, revealed serious concerns, causing another setback. “I started to feel my lower back, and I couldn’t sleep all night. I thought something happened. I couldn’t move. I just laid down in the hot tub, it was crazy pain,” ‘Akhalkalakets’ explained. This nearly jeopardized Dana White’s $10.2 million event, but at the last moment, undercard fighter Renato Moicano stepped up to replace the Armenian.

With UFC 311 now behind us, weight cutting in MMA continues to stir controversy. UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan recently discussed the topic during his podcast JRE MMA Show #165, alongside UFC 205-pound contender Jiří Procházka, who was also part of the UFC 311 undercard. Rogan, known for his blunt opinions, described weight cutting as “sanctioned cheating” and voiced his concerns about the practice. “Arman (Tsarukyan) is big. He’s big! When I stand next to him, I can’t believe he makes 155. He’s very muscular, dense, and lean. So for him to make 155, it must be an absolutely brutal weight cut. I have to think he weighs 180, easy—maybe more.”

Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC journey has been a testament to his skill, perseverance, and growth as a fighter. With standout performances in back-to-back bouts, ‘Akhalkalakets’ earned his shot at the title and aimed to avenge his 2019 loss to Islam Makhachev, which came during his UFC debut. Since his loss to the champ, Tsarukyan has bounced back strongly, accumulating 9 wins in 11 UFC appearances. But despite his impressive run, missing the chance for a title shot leaves fans wondering: what’s next for Arman Tsarukyan?

Will Dana White give Arman Tsarukyan a direct title shot?

“I’ve poured everything into this—my time, my money, my health, and everything else—to make it happen,” said Arman Tsarukyan just weeks before UFC 311. ‘Akhalkalakets’ had waited five years for the opportunity to face Islam Makhachev and become the first Armenian to compete for the prestigious UFC title. However, fate had different plans for the “jacked and mobile” fighter. A back injury halted his journey, sustained during a brutal weight cut.

So, will Arman Tsarukyan get a second chance upon his return to the octagon? Unfortunately, not anytime soon. According to Dana White, who addressed the Armenian’s future at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference, the fighter’s aspirations for a title shot were dashed. White stated, “Tsarukyan is not getting a title shot. That means he’s going to have to fight his way back to the title. He’s going back to the drawing board. I don’t want anybody to ever fight hurt, ever. We’ve been in these positions before, but… Went down there with the doctor, went down there with Heather [Linden] from the [UFC Performance Institute]… and you miss opportunities sometimes, and he did.”

What are your thoughts on Arman Tsarukyan’s weight cut issues? Should the UFC and athletic commissions implement stricter measures to monitor fighters during the weight cut process? Would adopting policies similar to ONE Championship, which have safeguards in place to prevent such malpractices, be the right approach? Share your opinion below.