Dana White’s Strategy “Don’t Make Sense” as Cautious Arman Tsarukyan Made to Clarify Islam Makhachev Fight Rejection at UFC 302

After skillfully defeating the likes of Charles Oliveira at UFC 300, Arman Tsarukyan questioned Dana White. Although ‘Ahalkalakets’ previously backed out from fighting Islam Makhachev for the title of lightweight champion, he expressed his doubts over the UFC CEO’s decision to have Makhachev fight Dustin Poirier on 1st June. 

Previously, it was the Armenian fighter who was proposed to fight against the lightweight champion. However, he had to refuse the fight for a valid reason. However, some of the prominent faces in the fighting community seem to have doubts about Tsarukyan’s decision. As if to justify that, the Armenian has come up with an explanation.

Tsarukyan thinks Dana White made a wrong decision

In a recent conversation with the former British MMA athlete, Michael Bisping, on his show, ‘Believe You Me’, Tsarukyan suggested that the UFC CEO could have made a better decision. Bisping recalled that White once announced that he would be done with the lightweight division after taking care of Poirier and possibly Tsarukyan, too. Subsequently, he asked for the Armenian’s opinion.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 13: Charles Oliveira of Brazil exchanges strikes with Arman Tsarukyan in their lightweight fight at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Tsarukyan responded, “I mean, he just got a fight with me, you know, because I’m the contender number one. I don’t know why he, they want him to fight in June first. They can make the fight in, in the end of June and wait for me, you know. It don’t make sense, like, why does he has to fight in June first.”

UFC 302 was set to take place just a few weeks after the major success of UFC 300. No fighter who entered the Octagon on 14th April could take on another fight on UFC 302. Hence, Tsarukyan opined that if the fight with Makhachev had been at a later stage in time, he would have definitely taken it up. But things don’t always proceed as planned. 

Michael Chandler gets a tough reply

Michael Chandler, recently commented on Tsarukyan not taking the fight with Makhachev. “why Tsarukyan didn’t take the Islam Makhachevev fight? I would have taken it” he said, adding that the sport moved at quite a fast pace. 

But Tsarukyan simply turned on him. He said, “I don’t expect you to understand Michael Chandler. We are not on the same level. I’m here to become Champion you are just waiting for a paycheck. I also don’t understand why you waited for the Conor fight for 2 years. You could have lost four exciting fights during that time.” This response was appreciated by the entirety of the MMA world, including Thompson and John McCarthy. The duo indeed labeled the reply as “brilliant”. 

Nevertheless, Tsarukyan, being the top contender of the lightweight division would soon get another chance to fight for the championship title. After all, becoming the champ of the division is what most fighters strike for.

The post Dana White’s Strategy “Don’t Make Sense” as Cautious Arman Tsarukyan Made to Clarify Islam Makhachev Fight Rejection at UFC 302 appeared first on EssentiallySports.