Arman Tsarukyan has declared that he would indeed be the next man to face champion Islam Makhachev for the coveted UFC lightweight title. Tsarukyan is ranked #1 in the stacked 155-pound division. In addition, the Armenian is the official number one title contender, having defeated former champion Charles Oliveira in their UFC 300 title eliminator in April this year.

However, when he was making his ring walk to face ‘Do Bronx’, he got into an altercation with a spectator. One fan apparently said something offensive to the lightweight star, who proceeded to punch the fan in the face for it.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission, the sanctioning body for UFC 300 has penalized Tsarukyan for the the kerfuffle. The official number one contender has been handed a fine and a nine-month suspension by the body last month, which he can reduce to six months if he makes an anti-bullying PSA. This means that the Armenian would be ineligible to fight until January next year if he were to serve his full nine-month sentence.

Many speculated that Makhachev, who usually fights at least twice a year, would probably fight another contender in the meantime. But, Arman Tsarukyan, in a tweet has reiterated said that he would indeed be fighting Makhachev next. “I’m the one fighting for the title next. The rest of you can take a seat #AndNew,” Tsarukyan tweeted.

Makhachev and Tsarukyan have faced each other in the UFC octagon before. The Dagestani had defeated the Armenian on the latter’s promotional debut on a Fight Night card five years ago. Since then, both men have improved a lot and come into their own as fighters.

While Tsarukyan was a wide-eyed newcomer the first time they met, he has matured as a fighter and prefers to do his best work on the ground. His striking, however, is nothing to scoff at as he is more than capable of knocking out fighters, just like he did to Beneil Dariush last year.

Supplementing Tsarukyan’s tweet is a statement his manager released on the NSAC’s judgment, which also reveals when the Armenian expects to face Makhachev again.

Arman Tsarukyan’s manager welcomes the suspension

Arman Tsarukyan’s manager, Daniel Rubenstein has welcomed the decision on behalf of his client and confirmed that Tsarukyan will indeed make the PSA to get the suspension down to six months, and face Makhachev in late 2024. This means that the 27-year-old can face Makhachev by October this year.

There are rumors that the UFC is targeting Makhachev-Tsarukyan 2 for UFC 308 at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi this October, for which Tsarukyan will be eligible only if he makes the PSA. “Arman appreciates the NSAC’s dealings in this matter and looks forward to working with the UFC and NSAC to produce an anti-bullying PSA to reduce his suspension and competing for a UFC lightweight title before the end of the year,” the Armenian’s manager said in a statement.

The UFC had offered a title shot to Michael Chandler, whose slated fight with Conor McGregor has fallen apart yet again. While ‘Iron’ has turned down the title shot, choosing to wait for ‘Mac’ (and the biggest payday of his career), as he has done for the past year, these rumblings must have made Tsarukyan feel that his place in the title queue might be in jeopardy. But the Armenian has cleared any doubts and confirmed he is indeed next.