Morning Report: Arman Tsarukyan says Justin Gaethje ‘has to wait’ for title shot after Charles Oliveira fight announcement

The UFC light-weight division can doubtlessly undergo a big altering of the guard within the first half of 2024.

UFC CEO Dana White stunned the MMA group with latest bulletins of massive upcoming matchups within the 155-pound division. First, followers will probably be handled to the five-round non-title co-main occasion banger between the perennial light-weight elite Dustin Poirier and rising contender Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299 in March. One month later at UFC 300, former champion Charles Oliveira returns with hopes of turning again one other rising star in Arman Tsarukyan.

Title implications have been firmly positioned upon the bout by White throughout his announcement, claiming that the winner will probably be subsequent for an allegedly injured present champion Islam Makhachev. Nonetheless, Makhachev took to social media yesterday to point out himself doing a little exercises and mapping out his quick future, which he needs to be a Justin Gaethje title protection in June. After that, he needs to face the Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan winner earlier than a February 2025 protection. Whereas Gaethje is firmly within the combine and deserving of a possibility at gold, the 27-year-old Tsarukyan believes he has to attend now that his Oliveira bout is official.

“I feel he ought to wait [for] us as a result of we’re going to be contender No. 1,” Tsarukyan informed Daniel Cormier. “Hopefully they’re not going to ebook that combat for the summer time and wait [for] us. After, after I win, I’m going to combat with Islam, after which we are able to discuss Gaethje. I really feel like we’re subsequent and Gaethje has to attend [for] us. Gathje has to attend [until] October. Okay, we’re going to combat for the title in the summertime.”

After his earlier first-round knockout of Beneil Dariush at UFC Austin final month, Tsarukyan prolonged his successful streak to a few and arguably launched himself to the forefront of the title contender dialogue. If it wasn’t going to be him difficult Makhachev, most have been in settlement that the Oliveira matchup was the right different. Now that it’s on, readability atop the talent-rich division is lastly culminating.

Regardless of the comparatively fast turnaround that it may be going from Oliveira in April to Makhachev in June, Tsarukyan is absolutely ready to make it occur and get his title shot rematch after an anticipated fast and painless victory over “Do Bronx.”

“If you understand wrestling and jiu-jitsu, how one can defend, it’s a very completely different recreation,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “If we’re going to do jiu-jitsu with out floor and pound, after all, he can possibly get any submissions. However once you punch somebody, he can’t take into consideration like, ‘Oh, I obtained to get his arm,’ or no matter. He’s obtained to defend himself, you understand? That’s why it’s so troublesome. Particularly with high-level fighters proper now.

“To choke somebody is so troublesome, particularly after I prepare with high-level fighters. To choke them you’ve obtained to beat them for 15-20 minutes, after which when he will get drained, you may end. First two rounds, it’s virtually unimaginable to choke high-level fighters. … I imagine that I can try this within the first spherical, and I wish to present everyone I’m the very best right here. My objective is to go there, and knock him out within the first spherical to point out everyone I deserve that title combat.”

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Mapped out.

Assist.

Scenes.

Pictures.

Nonetheless doing it.

Maintain it tight.

Bam Bam.

Return.

Motivation.

Cautious … Sneako…? Don’t know who that’s, however they higher be careful…

The star.

Sights.

Solely in Thailand.

Claudio Puelles (12-3) vs. Fares Ziam (14-4); UFC Mexico, Feb. 24

Vinicius Oliveira (19-3) vs. Yanis Ghemmouri (12-2); UFC Saudi Arabia, March 2

Jairzinho Rozenstruik (13-5) vs. Shamil Gaziev (12-0); UFC Saudi Arabia, March 2

Javid Basharat (14-0, 1 NC) vs. Aiemann Zahabi (10-2); UFC Saudi Arabia, March 2

Brendon Marotte (8-2) vs. Mohammad Yahya (12-4); UFC Saudi Arabia, March 2

Bryan Battle (10-2) vs. Ange Loosa (10-3); UFC Vegas 87, March 16

Cory McKenna (8-2) vs. Jaqueline Amorim (7-1); UFC Vegas 87, March 16

Thiago Moisés (17-7) vs. Brad Riddell (10-4); UFC Vegas 87, March 16

Angel Pacheco (7-2) vs. Caolan Loughran (8-1); UFC Atlantic City, March 30

Chidi Njokuani (22-10, 1 NC) vs. Rhys McKee (10-5-1); UFC Atlantic Metropolis, March 30

Zhang Weili (24-3) vs. Yan Xiaonan (17-3, 1 NC); UFC 300, April 13

Need to disagree with Arman on this one. Completely no purpose in any respect to maintain Gaethje on the sideline when that combat is going on in April and Makhachev seems to be able to go. Not believing Uncle Dana on this one…

Thanks for studying!

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