Arman Tsarukyan claims Justin Gaethje refused to fight him, saying 'He knows he could lose to me'. Tsarukyan initially wanted to face a different UFC lightweight challenger before accepting the matchup with Dan Hooker.
Arman Tsarukyan, whose record stands at 22-3 overall and 9-2 in the UFC, is set to headline UFC Fight Night 265 against Dan Hooker, who boasts a 24-12 MMA record and 14-8 in UFC competition. The event will take place on November 22 at the ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar, and will be available to watch on ESPN+.
Tsarukyan's preferred opponent was UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. However, after Tsarukyan pulled out of his scheduled title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311, UFC President Dana White stated that Tsarukyan would need to compete once more before being granted another title shot. During this time, Dan Hooker was publicly pushing for the fight, but Tsarukyan was looking at higher-tier challengers.
Speaking on "The Ariel Helwani Show," Tsarukyan explained, "I was interested in the title fight, but they said Ilia isn’t going to fight this year. So I told them I’m ready to fight anyone because I haven’t competed in a while and I want to get back in the octagon. I mentioned Dan Hooker or Justin Gaethje—those were the names I was considering. I heard Gaethje declined, while Hooker accepted, so that’s how this fight came together. Of course, Gaethje would be a better opponent, but honestly, either of them is an easy win for me."
Justin Gaethje, with a 26-5 MMA record and 9-5 UFC record, has been clear that he is aiming straight for a title fight and isn’t interested in other matches. Tsarukyan believes Gaethje declined because he recognizes the threat Tsarukyan poses.
“He knows he could lose to me,” Tsarukyan said about Gaethje. “We’ll see how my upcoming fight goes, but this is definitely a No. 1 contender-level match. Dana White didn’t officially call it that at first, but last weekend he confirmed it’s a No. 1 contender fight. However, with how things go in the UFC, they can label it however they want.”
But here’s the part most people miss: is Gaethje’s refusal a strategic move to protect his title shot, or is it an honest fear of losing? This subtle tension adds another layer to the lightweight division drama. What do you think—was Gaethje justified in declining Tsarukyan, or should all fighters face anyone ranked close to them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
