Dana White: Headbutting Dan Hooker led to Arman Tsarukyan title shot snub

UFC CEO Dana White cracked the door open in explaining why Arman Tsarukyan isn’t fighting for an interim lightweight title at UFC 324.

Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan won’t compete for the interim lightweight belt later this month at UFC 324. Despite an impressive finish against Dan Hooker in his most recent outing, Tsarukyan will watch as fellow lightweights Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett battle it out in the UFC 324 main event.

After the Gaethje vs. Pimblett fight was announced, many fans and pundits criticized the UFC’s decision to have Pimblett leapfrog Tsarukyan for a title shot. While Pimblett and lineal titleholder Ilia Topuria shared a heated post-fight faceoff at UFC 317, Tsarukyan arguably has a better track record in the lightweight division.

Tsarukyan’s short-notice withdrawal from UFC 311 last year, ahead of his fight with Islam Makhachev, played a major role in UFC CEO Dana White’s ongoing suspension of Tsarukyan’s desired title shot. But there’s more to the story when it involves Tsarukyan, White, and the UFC lightweight division.

Dana White makes big admission about Arman Tsarukyan’s latest title shot snub

Before submitting Hooker at UFC Qatar in November, Tsarukyan and Hooker had an intense faceoff at the ceremonial weigh-in. Tsarukyan headbutted Hooker during their staredown before security intervened and prevented a further incident between the two lightweight contenders.

White hinted at unspecified ‘man s—‘ when discussing Tsarukyan’s past behavior that contributed to the UFC’s decision to put him on the sidelines for UFC 324. But according to White, Tsarukyan’s controversial moment with Hooker played a role too.

In a recent interview with Barstool Sports, White seemed to hint that Tsarukyan’s physical faceoff with Hooker played a big factor in his being excluded from UFC 324.

“100 percent, a lot of things have factored in,” White said.

As of this writing, Tsarukyan hasn’t responded to White’s latest comments. He’s hopeful he’ll earn another marquee fight in the coming months, potentially against the Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira 2 winner.

Tsarukyan has won five fights in a row since a unanimous decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot in June 2022.