Gaethje: Tsarukyan Ducked Weight, Not Injured Back

Justin Gaethje says Arman Tsarukyan cost himself a UFC lightweight title shot by dodging a weight cut, not by suffering a legitimate back injury, as Tsarukyan has claimed since withdrawing from his scheduled title fight with Islam Makhachev earlier this year.

Tsarukyan was set to challenge Makhachev for the belt when he pulled out days before the bout and was replaced by Renato Moicano. Tsarukyan attributed the withdrawal to a back injury. Gaethje, now the undisputed lightweight champion, isn't buying it.

"We all make our own bed," Gaethje said on Demetrious Johnson's podcast. "He was going to fight Islam Makhachev for the belt. The truth is he wasn't going to make weight so he dropped out. If it was his back and there was a medical report on paper with the UFC, then he wouldn't be suffering like this."

Gaethje pressed the point further, questioning how a back injury alone would explain Tsarukyan's absence from the fight. "There's no way if he was truly to hurt his back cutting weight, how the f*ck do you do that for one. Maybe his body was shutting down and he just couldn't make weight, which happens," he said.

Why This Matters for Tsarukyan's Title Case

Tsarukyan now has to beat Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 on September 19 in Los Angeles just to get back into the conversation Gaethje thinks he threw away. The five-round co-main event in Los Angeles is widely viewed as a title eliminator, with most of the division agreeing Tsarukyan already did enough to deserve a crack at the belt before the Makhachev fight fell through. Gaethje's comments make clear he doesn't see it that way, and as the champion waiting to make his first title defense sometime in 2027, his read on who deserves the next shot carries weight even if it's not his decision to make.

Despite the shots at Tsarukyan's credibility, Gaethje still expects him to get past Ruffy. "Most likely, Arman's going to take him down," Gaethje said, predicting a grappling-heavy path to victory. He added a wish that runs counter to the prediction: "I hope Arman gets hit hard. It would be fun to see. I don't hate Arman. I'd rather him get hit hard than get on top of [Ruffy] and win."

Betting Angle

Sportsbooks agree with Gaethje's read on the fight itself. Tsarukyan opened as a heavy favorite and has been bet up to around -380 to -400, with Ruffy sitting near +300 to +303 as the underdog. That price reflects Tsarukyan's wrestling pedigree against a striker in Ruffy who has scored knockouts in 13 of his 14 professional wins. For bettors, the number already assumes Tsarukyan grinds out a decision or a late finish on the mat rather than trading in the pocket, which lines up with what Gaethje is predicting. The more interesting market angle is downstream: a clean Tsarukyan win keeps him in the title picture regardless of what Gaethje thinks he deserves, and futures on the next lightweight title challenger should react accordingly once UFC 331 wraps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Justin Gaethje say about Arman Tsarukyan missing his title shot?

Justin Gaethje said Arman Tsarukyan withdrew from his scheduled title fight with Islam Makhachev because he was not going to make weight, not because of a genuine back injury as Tsarukyan claimed.

Who is Arman Tsarukyan fighting next?

Arman Tsarukyan faces Mauricio Ruffy in the UFC 331 co-main event on September 19 in Los Angeles, a fight widely seen as a lightweight title eliminator.

Is Arman Tsarukyan favored against Mauricio Ruffy?

Yes, sportsbooks have listed Arman Tsarukyan as a heavy favorite over Mauricio Ruffy, with odds moving to around -380 to -400 for Tsarukyan.