Justin Gaethje questions Arman Tsarukyan’s UFC 311 injury claim

Justin Gaethje has cast doubt on Arman Tsarukyan's withdrawal from a UFC lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January 2025, suggesting the pullout was rooted in weight-cutting difficulties rather than a legitimate back injury.

Tsarukyan withdrew the night before weigh-ins, citing a back injury that sidelined him from his lone championship opportunity. Gaethje, however, expressed skepticism during an appearance on Demetrious Johnson's platform, arguing that Tsarukyan failed to make championship weight and used the injury claim as cover. "The truth is, he wasn't gonna make weight, so he dropped out," Gaethje said, speculating that Tsarukyan's body may have begun shutting down during an arduous weight cut—a scenario that could have forced the fighter to choose between health and fighting.

The dispute highlights conflicting accounts of what transpired. UFC President Dana White previously stated that UFC doctors cleared Tsarukyan to proceed with the bout. However, Tsarukyan countered that a pre-fight visual examination cannot diagnose the full extent of a spinal injury, and that an MRI performed after his withdrawal revealed significant back damage requiring future surgery. Gaethje acknowledged he was speculating but remained unconvinced by the medical narrative, suggesting the UFC's handling of Tsarukyan would have differed had the injury been documented on official reports.

Tsarukyan (23–3) has since rebounded to the fight schedule and is now set to face Mauricio Ruffy (14–2) at UFC 331 on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, moving forward without another title opportunity on the immediate horizon.