Arman Tsarukyan is one of the most talented lightweights in the UFC today. His skills, speed, wrestling, and confidence have always placed him among the top contenders in the division.
But despite doing everything inside the cage to earn a title fight, he finds himself ignored, sidelined, and pushed out of the championship picture.
Many fans are now calling him the “clown of UFC,” not because he lacks ability, but because of how the UFC has handled him after a series of decisions he made.
The situation surrounding Arman Tsarukyan has become a strong example of how quickly momentum can disappear in the UFC.
Even after finishing Dan Hooker in dominant fashion by submission, Arman has somehow moved further away from the title instead of getting closer.
The UFC has made it clear that he is not next, and the decisions behind this situation have turned his championship dream into a big question mark.
This article explains how Arman’s title hopes collapsed, why the UFC chose others over him, and how a few decisions he made created a long-term setback in his career.
Arman Tsarukyan’s Rise and the Win That Should Have Changed Everything
Arman Tsarukyan entered the lightweight division with huge potential. His fight against Islam Makhachev years ago showed everyone that he was more than capable of hanging with the best.
Over time, he kept improving, kept winning, and kept proving that he was the future of the division.
His win over Dan Hooker was supposed to be the moment that forced the UFC to push him into a title fight. He looked sharp, confident, and completely in control.
Many fighters struggle to finish Hooker, but Arman did it with ease. Immediately after that fight, fans and analysts had only one expectation:
Arman Tsarukyan will get the next lightweight title shot.
But the UFC had other plans.
Instead of rewarding Arman, the UFC booked Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title.
This decision shocked the entire MMA community. Gaethje had a strong resume, but Paddy Pimblett was still working his way up the rankings. Fans could not understand how Paddy got a title opportunity before Arman.
The UFC’s message was simple:
Arman is not in the title picture. Not now. Maybe not even next year.
And that is where everything started falling apart for him.
Ilia Topuria’s Inactivity And How It Closed the Door for Arman
The current lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, is not fighting right now. Because of that, the UFC created an interim title.
Usually, when this happens, the top contenders are placed in line to determine the next challenger.
But Arman Tsarukyan was not even considered.
With Gaethje and Pimblett fighting for the interim belt, the winner will automatically become the next challenger whenever Ilia Topuria returns. That means the entire next title cycle is already booked:
- Gaethje vs Pimblett – Interim Title
- Winner vs Ilia Topuria – Undisputed Title
Where does that leave Arman?
Nowhere.
He has to wait at least one full year before even thinking about a title fight. And considering how quickly things change in MMA, even that is not guaranteed.
It means Arman Tsarukyan’s chances of becoming the lightweight champion—at least in the near future—are almost zero.
Why UFC Is Punishing Arman Tsarukyan: The UFC 311 Withdrawal
Many fans believe the UFC’s decision is not based on skill but on something that happened earlier.
Arman Tsarukyan was originally scheduled to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311.
This was the dream opportunity he had been waiting for. Title shots do not come often in the UFC, and especially not in a stacked division like lightweight.
But Arman withdrew from the fight.
The UFC did not appreciate that decision. Whether it was due to injury, timing, or personal reasons, withdrawing from a title fight has major consequences in this organization.
The UFC wants reliability, not uncertainty. When a fighter backs out of a championship bout, the company often takes it personally.
Arman withdrawing from UFC 311 changed how the UFC viewed him. They stopped seeing him as a dependable title challenger.
In the UFC’s eyes, this was a big mistake.
Declining the Fight with Mateusz Gamrot Made Things Worse
After pulling out from the Islam Makhachev title fight, Arman got another offer from the UFC.
They asked him to fight Mateusz Gamrot, a former opponent and a top contender himself.
Arman declined that fight too.
This decision became the final straw for the UFC. In a business where momentum is everything, refusing fights, especially after withdrawing from a title bout can damage your standing in the company very quickly.
The UFC hates when fighters:
- Withdraw from big fights
- Decline replacement fights
- Slow down the matchmaking process
By doing both, Arman seemed unreliable to the promotion. And when a fighter is seen as unreliable, the UFC has no problem moving forward without them.
This is exactly what is happening to Arman Tsarukyan.
Why Fans Are Calling Him “The Clown of UFC”
The nickname is not about Arman’s skill. It’s about how he looks in the overall situation. After beating Dan Hooker, he had all the momentum. Everyone was expecting a title shot. But now he is nowhere close.
Fans think he is being played by the UFC. Every time he does something impressive, the UFC seems to ignore it completely. He keeps winning, yet the title picture moves forward without him.
The frustration comes from seeing a talented fighter stuck in a loop where nothing he does is enough. And from the outside, it looks like Arman is desperately chasing opportunities that the UFC has already denied him.
People are calling him a “clown” because the UFC’s decisions make him look powerless.
Arman Tsarukyan’s Mistakes That Cost Him His Future
Arman is a great fighter, but even great fighters make strategic mistakes. Here are the two major choices that changed his career:
1. Withdrawing from the Islam Makhachev Title Fight
This was the biggest opportunity of his life. Fighters wait years for such chances. Some never get one. Losing this chance damaged his relationship with the UFC.
2. Declining the Mateusz Gamrot Fight
Once the UFC gives a fighter a second chance and that fighter says no, the UFC usually moves on quickly. By declining Gamrot, Arman confirmed the UFC’s doubts.
Combined, these two decisions took him out of title contention.
UFC Is Using Arman as an Example for Other Fighters
One thing is very clear:
The UFC does not want fighters refusing fights, especially title fights.
By pushing Arman Tsarukyan out of the picture, the UFC is sending a message to all fighters:
“Do not back out of big opportunities. Do not decline the fights we offer.”
Arman has become the example the UFC uses to teach others what not to do.
Whether fair or not, the UFC is known for making tough business decisions. Arman’s current situation shows how unforgiving the promotion can be when fighters make choices that go against its plans.
What Arman Tsarukyan Must Do Now to Save His Career
Even though the situation looks bad, all hope is not lost. Arman still has a path forward, but it will not be easy. He must rebuild trust with the UFC and make himself impossible to ignore.
Here are the steps he needs to take:
1. Stay Active
The UFC loves fighters who fight often. Arman must accept whatever top contender the UFC offers next.
2. Take High-Risk Fights
If he beats someone like Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, or even a rising star, the UFC will have no choice but to consider him again.
3. Stop Saying No
He cannot afford to decline any fights at this stage. One more declined fight could bury his title hopes for years.
4. Win in Dominant Fashion
The more spectacular the wins, the bigger the pressure on the UFC to push him toward the title.
Is There Any Chance Arman Gets a Title Shot Soon?
Realistically, the chance is very small.
With Gaethje and Pimblett fighting for the interim belt, and the winner promised a fight with Ilia Topuria, Arman will not be considered for at least a year.
Even if he gets a big win next, it may take multiple fights before the UFC trusts him again.
This is why fans believe his future as a champion is almost gone.
Conclusion: Arman Tsarukyan’s Career Is a Warning for Every UFC Fighter
Arman Tsarukyan is one of the best lightweights in the world, but his title dream has been pushed far away due to decisions he made and the UFC’s reaction to them.
He withdrew from a title fight, declined another big fight, and now finds himself forgotten in the championship conversation.
The UFC is clearly using him as an example. And until he rebuilds trust, he will continue to be left out of major opportunities.
He is not a “clown” because of his skills he is called that because the UFC has turned him into a cautionary story.
If Arman wants to rise again, he must fight, win, and stay ready for any challenge. Only then can he hope to rewrite this chapter of his career.
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