Count Arman
Tsarukyan among those who are skeptical that Michael
Chandler and Conor
McGregor are ever going to square off in the Octagon.
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Tsarukyan called out Chandler following his third-round technical
knockout victory against Joaquim
Silva in the
UFC on ESPN 47 co-main event on Saturday night. The 26-year-old
Russian has been victorious in seven of eight UFC appearances since
falling to reigning lightweight king Islam
Makhachev in his promotional debut.
“If you want to ask me, for sure I want to fight with Michael
Chandler,” Tsarukyan said at Saturday’s post-fight press
conference. “Because it looks like his fight with Conor McGregor is
over. He got to fight with someone, and I am here. I have good win
streak and let’s do this fight, because I’m the youngest guy in top
15. He’s the older one. I think for fans it’s good when new
generation fights with older generation.”
Hey @MikeChandlerMMA
if you think the fight with Conor is still happening you are as
dumb as your fight iq— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc)
June 18, 2023
Chandler and McGregor are opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter
31,” which is currently airing on ESPN. The two lighweight stars
are supposed to fight at the conclusion of the reality show, though
a date for that pairing has not been announced. Multiple hurdles
could prevent the bout from taking place, including McGregor’s
delayed entry into the USADA drug testing pool and more recently,
rape allegations stemming from the Irish star’s appearance at
an NBA Finals game in Miami. Tsarukyan also pointed to McGregor’s
lifestyle, which at least according to his social media, doesn’t
seem to be focused on training.
“I saw what McGregor’s doing,” Tsarukyan said. “He’s like relaxing
on his yacht, like drink alcohol, goes to the beach, smoke weed. I
train with the crazy guys. I live in the gym, train three, two
times a day. He’s not going to fight.”
If a Chandler matchup doesn’t come to fruition, Tsarukyan also has
his eyes on a potential showdown with Beneil
Dariush, who is coming off a loss to Charles
Oliveira in the UFC 289 co-main event.
“If Dariush can fight in Abu Dhabi in October, I definitely want to
fight with him,” Tsarukyan said. “If not, and you know me, I’m
going to fight everybody, but [I want] somebody from the top five —
Chandler, Dariush, whatever. But I think a fight with Dariush makes
sense.”