TLDR
- Dana White confirmed that Arman Tsarukyan’s headbutt of Dan Hooker at weigh-ins “a hundred per cent” factored into denying him a title shot
- Tsarukyan withdrew from a title fight against Islam Makhachev on the eve of UFC 311 in January 2025, damaging his standing with the organization
- The Armenian fighter was previously fined and suspended for an altercation with a fan at UFC 300
- Despite being ranked No. 1 and going 10-1 in his last 11 fights, Tsarukyan was excluded from the interim title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett
- White said “a lot of things have factored in” to Tsarukyan being passed over for title opportunities for nearly two years
Sources: Sportsnet | NEWS.am Sport | Sportsnet/Bloody Elbow
UFC president Dana White revealed that multiple incidents of unprofessional behavior led to the decision to exclude top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan from the upcoming interim title fight. Despite holding the No. 1 ranking in the 155-pound division, Tsarukyan will not compete for gold when the UFC introduces an interim championship later this month.
White confirmed during an interview with Robbie Fox of the Spinnin’ Backfist MMA Show that “a lot of things have factored in” to Tsarukyan being repeatedly passed over for title opportunities. The 29-year-old Armenian fighter has been the UFC’s top lightweight contender for nearly two years but has not received a championship bout during that time.
The UFC announced that Justin Gaethje will face Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on January 31, 2026. This decision came after reigning champion Ilia Topuria announced a leave of absence from competition due to personal reasons.
Arman Tsarukyan says the UFC told him he can’t fight on the first Paramount+ card because he’s “too dangerous”:
“They said: ‘You’re too dangerous to put on the first Paramount card because of the headbutts, withdrawals, and hitting fans.’ 😳🥊
#MMATwitter pic.twitter.com/iAyONlNKNE
— The Fight Fanatic🥊 (@FightFanatic_) January 10, 2026
The Headbutt Incident
White stated that Tsarukyan’s headbutt of Dan Hooker at the ceremonial weigh-ins before their November fight “a hundred per cent” factored into the decision. The unprofessional action could have canceled the bout entirely if Hooker had suffered an injury or laceration.
Tsarukyan went on to defeat Hooker by submission in the main event of that UFC Fight Night card. The victory extended his record to 10-1 over his past 11 fights, including knockout wins over ranked lightweights Beneil Dariush and Joel Alvarez.
The Hooker headbutt was not Tsarukyan’s first disciplinary issue with the organization. He was previously fined and suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission for an altercation with a fan during his walkout at UFC 300, where he defeated former champion Charles Oliveira.
The Withdrawal That Changed Everything
Tsarukyan was scheduled to challenge former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for the title at UFC 311 in January 2025. He withdrew from the bout on the eve of the event, citing a back injury sustained while cutting weight.
White said at the time that Tsarukyan would need to “fight his way back to the title” after the late withdrawal. The UFC president made clear that Tsarukyan had fallen out of the organization’s good graces following that incident.
In an apparent effort to make amends, Tsarukyan served as the official backup fighter for Topuria’s title fight with Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025. His services were not needed, and he was later matched with Hooker for his return fight after an 18-month absence from competition.
Gaethje enters UFC 324 ranked No. 4 at lightweight and has competed in multiple title fights during his UFC career. Pimblett holds a 7-0 record in the UFC and is ranked No. 5 in the division.
Pimblett’s only victory over a currently ranked fighter came at UFC 314 when he stopped Michael Chandler, who remains ranked No. 12 despite a 2-5 UFC record. The winner of Gaethje versus Pimblett is expected to face Topuria when the champion returns to active competition.
Tsarukyan remains the official No. 1-ranked contender at lightweight despite being excluded from the interim title fight. If the interim champion faces Topuria upon his return, Tsarukyan could face an even longer wait before his next opportunity to compete for UFC gold.
