Arman Tsarukyan wants ‘at least 5’ lightweight title defenses to break Islam Makhachev’s UFC record

Arman Tsarukyan has set an ambitious target: at least five UFC lightweight title defenses, a mark that would surpass Islam Makhachev's divisional record of four. The two lightweights first met in 2019 when Tsarukyan, just 22 years old, took a short-notice bout against Makhachev at a UFC event in Russia—Makhachev won a competitive decision. Three years later, Makhachev became UFC champion and eventually granted Tsarukyan his title shot at UFC 311 in January 2025, but a back injury forced Tsarukyan to withdraw from that contest. Makhachev subsequently vacated the title and moved to welterweight, where he captured the championship.

Speaking on the Deep Waters podcast, Tsarukyan outlined his path to glory. He must first defeat Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 on September 19, then capture the vacant or disputed lightweight crown—likely against Justin Gaethje, to whom Tsarukyan believes the UFC has given him a verbal promise of a title shot. Once champion, Tsarukyan intends to rack up five defenses before considering a move to 170 pounds or retirement. That fifth defense would make him the most successful lightweight title holder in UFC history.

Regarding his potential first title defense, Tsarukyan expects Ilia Topuria—who claimed the vacant belt with a knockout of Charles Oliveira but lost it in a stunning upset to Gaethje in June—to rebound strongly and earn another shot at gold. Tsarukyan praised Topuria as an incredible fighter and predicted the Spaniard would return more focused and motivated. Looking further ahead at the division's landscape, Tsarukyan believes the matchmakers may book Paddy Pimblett for an easier fight rather than feed him to a top contender, and suggested Pimblett could eventually challenge for title gold himself.