Arman Tsarukyan shares condition for accepting UFC White House backup role for Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is preparing to back up Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje with one specific caveat for the matchmakers.

Just weeks away from the highly anticipated UFC lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, top UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan remains without clarity surrounding when he’ll get another title shot. Tsarukyan was supposed to fight then-lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 last year, before withdrawing on hours’ notice due to injury.

Months removed from his most-recent win over Dan Hooker, Tsarukyan remains on the outside looking in when it comes to a shot at the lightweight championship. While UFC CEO Dana White and the matchmakers have teased several intriguing options for Tsarukyan’s next fight, unspecificity has created more questions than answers.

In the meantime, Tsarukyan has been posited as a potential backup fighter for Topuria vs. Gaethje in June. But if the UFC calls Tsarukyan to serve as the backup fighter, he refuses to officially weigh in along with Topuria, Gaethje, and others should his services not be needed.

Arman Tsarukyan draws line for potential UFC White House backup offer

In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Tsarukyan admitted he won’t officially weigh in as a backup at UFC Freedom 250 if the UFC asks him to fill the role.

“We talked about what’s going on next for me. I’m going to train and be in shape if something happens in the main event at the White House, I’ll back up, fight there [if needed],” Tsarukyan said.

“If not, they’ll announce my next fight after Ilia vs. Gaethje. I don’t want to [weigh in], I’m going to keep the weight low, in case they call me four, five days before the event. I’ll most likely fight the winner, but there are a couple of different things that can happen that are good.

“But I’m not going to cut and get to the scale at 155 as the backup.”

Tsarukyan weighed in as the backup to Topuria vs. Oliveira at UFC 317 last year ahead of the then-vacant lightweight title fight. Topuria went on to win the fight by knockout, while Tsarukyan’s title shot pursuits continue to be delayed.

Does Arman Tsarukyan deserve to fight the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje winner? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!