The elite ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) are constantly defined by high-stakes matchups, fierce rivalries, and bold declarations from top contenders looking to stake their claim to championship gold. Recently, top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan turned heads across the mixed martial arts world when he addressed a potential future matchup against former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Dismissing the challenges that many elite fighters traditionally face against "The Great," Tsarukyan characterized the Australian star as an aging opponent with a compromised chin, labeling a prospective fight between them as a stylistic walk in the park.
However, Tsarukyan’s assessment has quickly met with skepticism from some of the most respected veterans on the UFC roster. Former interim lightweight champion Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier and former middleweight titleholder Chris Weidman have both spoken out to challenge Tsarukyan’s narrative, offering a stark reminder of Volkanovski’s elite skill set, championship pedigree, and undeniable resilience inside the Octagon.
Dustin Poirier Warns That Volkanovski Is "No Easy Out"
The controversy began when Tsarukyan sat down for an interview with Helen Yee. During the conversation, the surging lightweight contender discussed his future championship aspirations and potential paths through the weight classes, casually naming Volkanovski as an ideal adversary.
"Yeah, I would fight him," Tsarukyan told Yee. "He’s old, bad chin. He’s a tough opponent, but he’s a little bit old now. For me, it’s a perfect fight."
Those remarks did not go unnoticed by his peers. During a recent episode of the Deep Waters podcast, combat sports analyst and former fighter Din Thomas brought up Tsarukyan’s comments, prompting an immediate reaction from Dustin Poirier. While Poirier acknowledged Tsarukyan’s undeniable skill and status as one of the best fighters in the sport today, he strongly cautioned against underestimating a veteran of Volkanovski’s caliber.
"Arman’s a great fighter, but it’s probably tougher matchup than he’s saying, man. Volk is no easy out for anybody," Poirier stated during the episode.
Poirier went on to highlight a specific aspect of Volkanovski’s game that he believes makes the Australian an exceptionally difficult puzzle to solve for any grappler or wrestler in the promotion. Pointing to Volkanovski’s past performances at the highest level, Poirier reminded fans of the elite defensive wrestling the featherweight stalwart displayed against reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev during their memorable championship encounters.
"And he showed his wrestling defense against Islam [Makhachev]," Poirier added. "That’s a tough fight."
Chris Weidman Agrees With Poirier and Questions Tsarukyan’s Logic
Poirier’s sentiments were swiftly echoed by former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, who weighed in on the topic shortly afterward. Weidman pointed to Volkanovski’s technical masterclass and recent victory over Movsar Evloev—a competitor widely recognized for his suffocating and elite wrestling background—to dismantle the idea that any fighter can simply walk into the Octagon and easily overpower the former champion.
"It’s gonna be hard to imagine you just think you’re gonna ragdoll him [Volkanovski]. Look at Evloev [Movsar]," Weidman noted. "Evloev has got great wrestling, but it didn’t work out for him."
Beyond the tactical realities of a potential matchup, Weidman also addressed the apparent contrast between Tsarukyan’s usual demeanor and the surprisingly brash dismissal of a respected legend. Known generally for a more reserved and serious approach to his career, Tsarukyan’s bold claims struck Weidman as a humorous departure from his standard public persona.
"Arman’s funny, because he seems like a very humble dude," Weidman observed. "He doesn’t really smile much, and is usually humble, but then these things come out of his mouth, and it’s actually funny."
Looking Ahead to Tsarukyan’s Immediate Future
While verbal exchanges and stylistic debates continue to captivate the MMA community, Tsarukyan has immediate business to attend to as he navigates his combat sports career. The top-tier lightweight is currently preparing for an upcoming submission grappling match against Neiman Gracie under the Rules of Absolute Fighting (RAF) banner, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi in November.
Following his grappling showcase, Tsarukyan’s next major appearance inside the UFC Octagon is widely anticipated to materialize in early 2027. That expected return is projected to carry the highest possible stakes, with the lightweight title likely hanging in the balance. Whether a future collision with Alexander Volkanovski eventually materializes once Tsarukyan establishes himself at the pinnacle of the division remains to be seen, but prominent veterans like Poirier and Weidman have made it clear that writing off "The Great" is a dangerous mistake for any aspiring champion.
