UFC 300, the upcoming PPV of the promotion, features a plethora of high-profile fights. Among them are two lightweight bouts on the main card, each with significant title implications.
Arman Tsarukyan will face Charles Oliveira in a lightweight title eliminator fight, while Max Holloway will square off against Justin Gaethje, the BMF champion. With the lightweight title within reach, Tsarukyan also has his sights also set on capturing the BMF belt.
Arman Tsarukyan locks aim on BMF title
Arman Tsarukyan was recently in Miami at UFC 299 for the UFC 300 promotional press conference with Kayla Harrison and Alex Pereira. Before the event, Tsarukyan was interviewed by ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto where he expressed his interest in becoming the BMF champion.
“It’s (BMF title) in my division, 155. In the future, I want to fight for the BMF title also,” said Tsarukyan in the interview.
Tsarukyan’s last fight was a knockout victory against Beneil Dariush in the main event of UFC Austin. The Armenian called for a title shot against Islam Makhachev in the post-fight interview as Tsarukyan’s debut was against Makhachev on short notice.
Makhachev has not fought since he knocked out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294. Moreover, he expressed interest in defending the title against Justin Gaethje rather than Tsarukyan or Oliveira whom he had already defeated.
However, after Dustin Poirier emerged victorious against Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299, Makhachev expressed his interest in fighting Poirier in June as other viable options won’t be ready for a fight in June.
Arman Tsarukyan confident to finish Charles Oliveira
Arman Tsarukyan had a tough time at the UFC 300 promotional press conference as per Pinkvilla. Almost all the fans were pro-Charles Oliveira and therefore insulted Tsarukyan by predicting that Oliveira would knock him out.
However, when asked by a fan how he would defeat Oliveira, Tsarukyan responded that he would knock out Oliveira in the first round. His rationale stemmed from Makhachev’s victory over Oliveira in the second round, and Tsarukyan aimed to outdo the undisputed champion.
Oliveira’s last fight was against Beneil Dariush which he won via knockout in the latter part of the first round. Tsarukyan one-upped Oliveira as he knocked out Dariush in just 66 seconds of the fight.
The victor is guaranteed a title shot against Makhachev by the UFC and Dana White. However, since Makhachev wants to fight in June, they likely won’t be next for Makhchev. Nevertheless, they would likely fight for the title later this year.
Do you think Arman Tsarukyan will become the BMF champion? Leave your prediction below!
