“I’ve invested everything into this—my time, my money, my health—doing whatever it takes to make this happen.” Arman Tsarukyan said as he reflected on his journey earlier this year when he was just a week out from his first title shot against reigning 155lbs champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 311. However, a last-minute back injury incurred during the weight cut shattered his title aspirations, forcing him to drop out of the bout.

Moreover, Dana White confirmed that the Armenian would need to return to the “drawing board” to earn another title shot, offering his final judgment and adding, “We’ll see how this plays out for him next year.” Since then, perennial potential opponents, such as Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira have also staked their claim at the Dagestani.

However, Tsarukyan is determined not to let anyone take his place in the fight against Islam Makhachev. Recently, #1 ranked 155fer made his position clear on X, stating, “I’m the true #1 contender, ready to prove it against anyone. But how can I do that when everyone else is just looking for a paper fight? Charles, Justin—either sit and wait, or step up and earn it.”

However, Tsarukyan’s claims hold little sway with Dana White, who has made it clear that when it comes to Islam Makhachev’s next opponent, anyone could be in line—except the Armenian. Even the #3 ranked Gaethje seems to have a stronger case for the title shot. After delivering one of the best performances of his career earlier this month against Rafael Fiziev, ‘The Highlight’ has emerged as the frontrunner. White has already stated that the “odds” of Gaethje getting the next title shot are looking much stronger—an idea that ‘Team Khabib has even welcomed.

Islam Makhachev’s coach welcomes the “perfect matchup” against Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje vs. Islam Makhachev—an intriguing matchup that has rarely been discussed. Despite both fighters being top contenders in the lightweight division for years, their paths never seemed to cross. The reason? A division stacked with talent, where countless challengers have vied for the title, leaving little room for this fight to take center stage. Now, at 36 and approaching the final chapter of his career, ‘The Highlight’ is eager for one last shot at gold before calling it quits. He hinted at his ambitions ahead of UFC 313 earlier this month, stating, “I think I’ll be one of the guys that they consider to fight [Islam] Makhachev.“

Moreover, Gaethje reinforced his case inside the Octagon by delivering a dominant performance and handing Rafael Fiziev his third consecutive loss, further strengthening his claim to a title shot. As a result, the possibility of Gaethje vs. Islam Makhachev has even gained traction within ‘Team Khabib.’

Coach Javier Mendez openly welcomed the idea, telling Submission Radio, “Fantastic. Then it’s Justin Gaethje. We’ll focus on Justin Gaethje. That would be, ideally for us, the perfect matchup based on where his standing is and what he’s done. He’s a big, known guy, and Islam hasn’t fought him, so he’s perfect.”

But what does this mean for Arman Tsarukyan? Will Dana White and the UFC give the Armenian prospect an immediate title shot upon his return, or will it be Gaethje who seizes this defining opportunity? Share your thoughts and predictions below!