Arman Tsarukyan Faces Busy June Schedule as UFC Backup

Arman Tsarukyan is preparing for a high-stakes month in June, as he has been officially named the backup fighter for the UFC lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje [2]. This role requires the 29-year-old to weigh in for the June 14 event in Washington D.C. to ensure he is ready to step in should either headliner be unable to compete [2, 3].

Key takeaways

• Arman Tsarukyan is the official backup for the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje title fight at the UFC White House event on June 14 [2].
• Tsarukyan is also scheduled to face Tony Ferguson in a grappling match at RAF 10 in St. Louis on June 13 [2].
• The scheduling conflict creates a logistical challenge, as Tsarukyan must weigh in for the UFC in D.C. on the same day as his grappling match [2, 3].
• Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF) officials stated they do not currently expect the RAF 10 matchup to be impacted by the UFC commitment [2].

A logistical challenge in June

The dual commitment has raised questions about how the lightweight contender will manage his obligations. Tsarukyan is set to compete against Tony Ferguson at RAF 10 in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 13 [2]. Because he must also be present in Washington D.C. to weigh in as the official UFC backup on that same day, he faces a tight turnaround [2]. While the distance between the two locations is roughly a two-and-a-half-hour flight, it remains unclear how the fighter will navigate the logistics of fulfilling both requirements [2].

Despite the potential for a scheduling clash, the RAF promotion has indicated that they do not anticipate the June 13 match being affected by Tsarukyan’s UFC responsibilities [2]. Meanwhile, the headliner of the UFC event, Ilia Topuria, has dismissed the significance of having a backup fighter waiting in the wings [3]. Topuria stated that he is focused only on his own performance and that the identity of his opponent does not change his approach to the fight [3].

Why it matters

Tsarukyan’s activity outside of the UFC has been a consistent theme for the fighter, who has participated in grappling and wrestling competitions monthly throughout the year to stay active [2]. His role as the official backup marks a significant opportunity for the lightweight contender, who has not competed in the UFC since his victory over Dan Hooker last November [2]. As the June 14 event approaches, the primary focus remains on whether the main event will proceed as planned or if the promotion will need to call upon its backup to step into the cage [3].