Arman
Tsarukyan wants upcoming lightweights to get a chance against
perennial top contenders.
Tsarukyan says the Top 5 of the
UFC lightweight division is an exclusive club, where they
repeatedly fight each other. “Ahalkalakets” wants the lower ranked
fighters to get a chance against the old timers, for some new
contenders in the division.
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“I don’t know why they give these old guys chances – Gaethje,
Oliveira,” Tsarukyan said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I wouldn’t
be surprised if Oliveira fights for the title again… We need new
names. New names coming up – give them chance. For example, someone
who just got to top 10, Top 15, give them a chance with Top 5 and
maybe switch the names.”
The Old Guard
Tsarukyan’s claims certainly hold some weight. Perennial contenders
like Justin
Gaethje and Charles
Oliveira have been ruling the top of the lightweight division.
Gaethje has made two unsuccessful title bids, become the interim
champion twice, and is now set to make a third title bid against
Ilia
Topuria at Freedom Fights 250 on June 14 at the White House.
Meanwhile, “Do Bronx” has won the title once, lost it, made an
unsuccessful bid against Topuria, and recently won the BMF title
against Max
Holloway.
While Holloway moved up from the featherweight division, his elite
status translated to the lightweight division as well. Meanwhile,
the recently retired Dustin
Poirier was another such contender, who made three failed title
bids. However, the old timers have not been ruling the top tier of
the division without reason. These contenders have only lost to
each other, or the reigning champion, while repeatedly thwarting
the attempts of up-and-comers to achieve contender status. While
Poirier shut down Benoit St.
Denis, Oliveira stopped Mateusz
Gamrot, and Gaethje won the interim title against Paddy
Pimblett.