Arman Tsarukyan is just one win away from a lightweight title shot, at least according to the fighter’s own camp. But UFC CEO Dana White isn’t rushing to confirm it.
With UFC 331 set for September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Tsarukyan’s co-main event clash with Mauricio Ruffy carries championship stakes that White himself won’t fully commit to.
Dana White on Arman Tsarukyan Title Shot
The tension traces back to comments Tsarukyan made claiming UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell had already given him a private handshake agreement guaranteeing a No. 1 contender spot with a win.
According to Tsarukyan, he only agreed to take the fight against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 because Campbell promised him the next shot at lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. White made clear the promotion isn’t ready to rubber-stamp that guarantee just yet.
Asked directly about Tsarukyan’s title-shot claim, White declined to confirm it outright. “I hate to say that until the fight is over. Arman says a lot of things. Arman and I had a nice little run here. Listen, let’s see how this fight plays out,” White said.
🚨 Dana White was hesitant to call Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy a #1 contender fight 🤔
“I hate to say that until the fight is over… Arman says a lot of things. Listen, let’s see how this fight plays out.”
(via @SportsCentralLA)pic.twitter.com/bOPLYyEplc
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 4, 2026
This shows a clear gap between Tsarukyan’s private conversation with Campbell and what the UFC will say publicly. But White isn’t denying a deal exists. He seems to be keeping the UFC’s options open depending on how the bout looks.
However, Tsarukyan’s path to gold has been anything but straightforward. He pulled out of a January 2025 title fight against Islam Makhachev on fight day, citing a back injury. This last-minute exit cost him the promotion’s trust. When he returned in November 2025, he submitted Dan Hooker in the second round, but he also headbutted Hooker at the ceremonial weigh-in.
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White later confirmed this headbutt was the main reason the UFC denied him an immediate title shot and made him work his way back. Although Tsarukyan enters UFC 331 on a five-fight win streak, his expectations still conflict with White’s public stance.
What Arman Tsarukyan’s Win Over Mauricio Ruffy Needs to Look Like
Given the current situation, a decision win might not be enough for Tsarukyan. He likely needs to show White a decisive finish before getting a fight with Gaethje. To make things more complicated, Ruffy says the UFC gave him the same title promise.
When asked if the winner gets the next title shot, Ruffy replied, “That’s the agreement with the UFC.” Coming off back-to-back knockouts against Michael Chandler and Rafael Fiziev, Ruffy also wants to avoid the judges.
Since Gaethje will not fight again this year, the lightweight division remains packed heading into the event. Nobody doubts Tsarukyan’s talent. The only question is whether the UFC trusts him. UFC 331 will settle the fight, but a simple win might not convince White.
