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Justin Gaethje claims Arman Tsarukyan blew his title shot because ‘he wasn’t going to make weight so he dropped out’

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2 months ago

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Justin Gaethje claims Arman Tsarukyan blew his title shot because ‘he wasn’t going to make weight so he dropped out’

Justin Gaethje is still awaiting his first assignment as undisputed UFC lightweight champion but the contenders are starting to stack up with hopes of getting the first shot at him when he's ready to compete again in 2027.

One of the most popular choices is Arman Tsarukyan, who is set to face Mauricio Ruffy in a pivotal lightweight fight taking place at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Sept. 19. While most believe that Tsarukyan already did enough to get that shot at gold, Gaethje argues that the 29-year-old contender has no one to blame but himself for being stuck on the outside looking in when it comes to a UFC championship.

Tsarukyan was scheduled to battle for the belt at the start of 2025 when he got matched up with then champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 331. Sadly, disaster struck just days away from the fight with Tsarukyan suffered a back injury and he was pulled off the event and replaced by Renato Moicano.

But Gaethje doesn't buy that story and that's why he believes Tsarukyan has been stuck as the odd man out when it comes to the lightweight title.

“We all make our own bed,†Gaethje told Demetrious Johnson on his 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.

“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.â€

That said, Gaethje expects Tsarukyan to get a win in his upcoming fight at UFC 331 to potentially position him yet again for a shot at the belt.

“Most likely, Arman's going to take him down,†Gaethje said. “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.â€

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MMA

Chris Weidman reveals the one thing that makes Stephen Thompson angry

Published

6 hours ago

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November 10, 2026

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Chris Weidman reveals the one thing that makes Stephen Thompson angry
Stephen
Thompson rarely loses his cool, except when it comes to
watching movies.

Thompson has long been considered one of the most affable fighters
on the
Ultimate Fighting Championship roster. Even Thompson's
opponents avoid provoking him, as nothing seems to faze the former
kickboxer. However, Chris
Weidman, a longtime friend of Thompson, recently recalled a
rare occasion when “Wonderboy†got angry.

UFC’s nicest fighter once cursed out kids for talking during
movie previews

Thompson and Weidman were watching a movie in a theater when a
group of kids behind them started talking. While the movie hadn't
even started, Thompson didn't want to be disturbed during the
previews. The former title challenger turned around and started
cursing at the kids, telling them to shut up.

“The only time I've seen him mad was in a movie theater,†Weidman
said on the “Deep Waters†podcast. “There's a group of kids sitting
behind us. And it's just the previews. ‘Wonderboy's sitting next to
me; we're eating popcorn. And he's just staring behind him. I'm
looking at him like, ‘Why's he turning around like that?' There's a
group of kids behind us; they're probably in their mid-twenties.
And he's like, ‘Shut up! I'm trying to watch this.' Dudes were
like, ‘Bro, it's the previews.' He's like, ‘I don't care. You
better shut the f*ck up.' He starts cursing. I'm like, ‘Wonderboy,'
yo, you good, man? It's the previews.' He does not play games.â€

Weidman revealed that both Thompson and his father, Ray, don't like
being disturbed while watching movies.

“He is obsessed,†Weidman added. “When he is watching movies, he is
so dialed in. And if anybody is taking him out of that, he loses
his mind. And his dad is the same way. They have this movie theater
room in the house. If you talk during the movies, they're just
looking at you like you're ruining their life. Like they're gonna
try and kill you.â€

Thompson (17-9-1) has fought the who's who of the welterweight
division in his 14-year UFC career. The 43-year-old is scheduled to
make his final walk to the Octagon against Charles
Radtke (12-5) at UFC
334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

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MMA

Khamzat Chimaev gets new opponent for RAF Abu Dhabi main event with Colby Covington out: ‘He is scared’

Published

23 hours ago

on

November 9, 2026

By

Khamzat Chimaev gets new opponent for RAF Abu Dhabi main event with Colby Covington out: ‘He is scared’

Khamzat Chimaev will now wrestle former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman after Colby Covington withdrew from Saturday's RAF 14 main event in Abu Dhabi, the promotion announced Monday.

RAF did not disclose what led to Covington's withdrawal, but Chimaev took a shot at the former UFC interim welterweight champion on social media. Covington was on a five-match winning streak in RAF but recently tapped out to a rear-naked choke in grappling against UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr.

The RAF light heavyweight crossover championship will be on the line for Chimaev vs. Weidman at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Chimaev was dominant in four straight wrestling matches since June, defeating Dillon Danis, Tyron Woodley, Gilbert Burns and Robbie Lawler. He now takes on Weidman while awaiting his next UFC assignment.

Weidman appeared once under the RAF banner, losing a decision to Covington back in May. That was his first competition since losing a grappling match to Patrick Downey in mid-2025.

Check the updated RAF Abu Dhabi lineup below.

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MMA

Morning Report: Dana White shoots down $10M Misfits Boxing rumor, tells Eddie Hearn to meet in gym ‘and we can f*cking do it’

Published

23 hours ago

on

November 9, 2026

By

Morning Report: Dana White shoots down $10M Misfits Boxing rumor, tells Eddie Hearn to meet in gym ‘and we can f*cking do it’

UFC 334 goes down this Saturday with two pretty damn intriguing title fights.

In the main event, undisputed* heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane goes for his first defense against, yes, one of the most talked-about fighters of 2026, the undefeated Josh Hokit. Folks, there’s a well-above zero chance that Hokit closes out the year as the UFC’s heavyweight king. Wowza.

Then you have the bantamweight matchup of destiny between champion Kayla Harrison and the GOAT herself Amanda Nunes. Where these two legends and the division go after UFC 334 is anybody’s guess, but this fight had to happen and it’s finally going down in Madison Square Garden.

So what’s your level of excitement as we kick off fight week?

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