Justin Gaethje claims Arman Tsarukyan blew his title shot because ‘he wasn’t going to make weight so he dropped out’

Justin Gaethje, the newly crowned undisputed UFC lightweight champion, has weighed in on Arman Tsarukyan's title shot situation, and his take challenges the official narrative. Tsarukyan was scheduled to face Islam Makhachev for the belt at UFC 331 but withdrew days before the fight citing a back injury. He was replaced by Renato Moicano, and Tsarukyan has since been sidelined from championship contention despite calls from many observers that he had already earned a shot at gold.

Appearing on Demetrious Johnson's podcast, Gaethje cast doubt on Tsarukyan's injury explanation, suggesting the contender actually failed to make weight. "The truth is he wasn't going to make weight so he dropped out," Gaethje stated. "If it was his back and there was a medical report on paper with the UFC, then he wouldn't be suffering like this. There's no way if he was truly to hurt his back cutting weight, how do you do that in the first place. Maybe his body was shutting down and he just couldn't make weight, which happens."

Gaethje, who awaits his first title defence when he returns in 2027, expressed little sympathy for Tsarukyan's position. "We all make our own bed," the champion said, before offering his prediction for Tsarukyan's upcoming fight against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 on September 19. Gaethje expects Tsarukyan to secure a win to revive his championship hopes, though he made clear his preference to see the contender tested rather than simply dominate by wrestling.