Tsarukyan Says Gaethje Ducking Him, Wants Answer by 2026

Arman Tsarukyan says Justin Gaethje is ducking him and believes the UFC will resolve his lightweight title situation before the end of 2026.

"Someone is trying to duck me; it's Justin Gaethje," Tsarukyan said in a recent interview with Helen Yee. "Now he's talking about retirement. Either UFC is going to pay him so much money that he's going to fight, or he's just going to retire. They told me they're going to let me know at the end of November."

Why Tsarukyan Feels Stuck Behind Gaethje

Tsarukyan has been the UFC's consensus No. 1 lightweight contender for an extended stretch, and his knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy only strengthened that case. The problem is timing. Gaethje won the undisputed lightweight title in June by stopping Ilia Topuria, but he immediately revealed he hurt both hands in the fight and does not plan to return until 2027. That leaves Tsarukyan in limbo, unsure whether he is waiting on a title shot against Gaethje or whether the UFC will eventually strip the belt and book him for an interim or vacant championship instead.

Gaethje has also floated retirement rather than a long layoff followed by a comeback, and Tsarukyan clearly suspects money, not just injury, is part of the hesitation. Adding another layer, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has pitched a Gaethje retirement fight for himself, a matchup Volkanovski admits would not carry title stakes in either division but one that would still delay any Tsarukyan booking if it ever materialized.

What It Means for the Betting Markets

This is a frustrating spot for anyone trying to bet the lightweight title picture, because there is no fight to price yet. If Gaethje sits out all of 2026 and 2027 arrives with his hands healed, Tsarukyan would likely open as a live favorite given his recent form and the layoff Gaethje would be carrying. If the UFC instead strips Gaethje and books Tsarukyan for a vacant belt against another top-five lightweight, expect him to be installed as a moderate favorite depending on the opponent, with his wrestling and recent knockout power over Ruffy working in his favor against most of the current contenders.

The bigger market question is retirement risk. Every month Gaethje stays silent on a return timeline increases the odds the title gets stripped, which actually works in Tsarukyan's favor competitively since it gets him into the Octagon sooner rather than waiting on a 36-year-old champion's recovery. Bettors should watch for any UFC announcement around the end of November, which is the internal deadline Tsarukyan says he was given.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Arman Tsarukyan think Justin Gaethje is ducking him?

Arman Tsarukyan is the UFC's top lightweight contender after knocking out Mauricio Ruffy, but champion Justin Gaethje has said he won't return until 2027 due to injuries to both hands, leaving no fight booked and fueling Tsarukyan's suspicion he is being avoided.

When will Arman Tsarukyan know his next fight?

Tsarukyan said the UFC told him it would have an answer by the end of November 2026 on whether he fights Justin Gaethje or competes for a vacant lightweight title.

Is Justin Gaethje retiring?

Justin Gaethje has not officially retired but has discussed the possibility, and he is not expected to return before 2027 after suffering hand injuries in his title-winning fight against Ilia Topuria.