Arman Tsarukyan’s Interim Title Proposal in 2024
In August 2024, lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan said he would consider an interim title fight if champion Islam Makhachev could not return that year. Makhachev’s hand injury cast doubt on a planned October defense, but the UFC never booked the interim matchup Tsarukyan proposed.
Tsarukyan’s proposal was conditional
Tsarukyan was the top lightweight contender after beating Charles Oliveira by split decision at UFC 300. He wanted his next appearance to be for a championship and said an interim belt would be an option if Makhachev remained unavailable. Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje were among the names discussed publicly as potential opponents, but no bout was made official.
Makhachev’s injury created uncertainty about the timing of his next defense, not a confirmed vacancy. An interim title fight would have required a UFC decision, and Tsarukyan’s public call alone did not establish that one was planned. The UFC later scheduled Makhachev to defend his title against Tsarukyan at UFC 311 in January 2025, but Tsarukyan withdrew before the event.
The rematch changed course
Tsarukyan withdrew from UFC 311 shortly before the event because of a back injury. Renato Moicano stepped in to challenge Makhachev, who retained the lightweight title by first-round submission. The interim-title scenario discussed the previous summer never materialized.
At the time, Tsarukyan’s comments reflected a contender seeking clarity while the champion recovered. In hindsight, the division resolved the delay through a scheduled title rematch rather than an interim belt, although Tsarukyan’s withdrawal postponed that rematch again.
Key update: Makhachev submitted Moicano by D’Arce choke at 4:05 of Round 1 at UFC 311 on January 18, 2025. Tsarukyan did not fight for an interim title.
Sources
- MMA Fighting: Tsarukyan discusses an interim title option
- UFC: Tsarukyan withdraws from UFC 311; Moicano replaces him
- UFC: UFC 311 results
Sources: ufc.com
Tags
MMA, Combat Sports
