Fresh off Justin Gaethje’s victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313, ‘The Highlight’ called for a shot at lightweight king Islam Makhachev. But Tsarukyan, a surging contender himself, isn’t having it.

Gaethje’s win, a hard-fought unanimous decision, wasn’t enough to impress Tsarukyan. ‘You barely got past #11 on short notice, and before that, you got sent to the shadow realm,’ Tsarukyan fired back, referencing Gaethje’s previous knockout loss. He’s making it crystal clear: Gaethje needs to earn his stripes.

“You barely got past #11 on short notice, and before that, you got sent to the shadow realm. If you really want to be the #1 contender and fight for the belt, you have to go through me first.” Tsarukyan declared. This isn’t just trash talk; it’s a direct challenge for a high-stakes, number-one contender bout.

The timing couldn’t be more electric. Makhachev, who’s been struggling to find fresh matchups, seemed to pique interest in a Gaethje fight, and UFC CEO Dana White has also been open to the idea. However, Tsarukyan, who had to pull out of a planned fight with Makhachev due to injury, is ready to reclaim his position and feels he is the rightful next contender.

Adding to the chaos, former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria’s move to lightweight has thrown another wrench into the title picture. If a Makhachev vs. Topuria superfight materializes, Tsarukyan has a fascinating prediction. ‘It’s a tough fight,’ Tsarukyan told The Schmo. ‘Ilia, he is a better striker, good boxing. I don’t know – he’s never fought with guys who can wrestle very well like Islam, so we will see. It is a 50-50 fight.’

The UFC lightweight division is a whirlwind of talent, and the path to the title is anything but clear. Will Gaethje answer Tsarukyan’s challenge? Could Topuria derail Makhachev’s reign? One thing’s for sure: the fans are in for a wild ride. Stay tuned to see how this high-stakes drama unfolds.