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Justin Gaethje surprisingly supports Arman Tsarukyan's long wait for UFC title shot

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Justin Gaethje surprisingly supports Arman Tsarukyan's long wait for UFC title shot

UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje believes Arman Tsarukyan deserves a title shot on merit, but agrees with the UFC's hesitancy.

Justin Gaethje pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when he finished Ilia Topuria by TKO earlier this year at UFC Freedom 250. After a long road back to an undisputed title fight, Gaethje handed Topuria his first loss and left the defending champion physically unrecognizable.

Next, Gaethje will decide whether or not he'll hang up his gloves or return to the Octagon to defend the UFC lightweight title. If he opts to return to the cage, Gaethje will likely fight the Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy winner, although a rematch with Topuria is also possible.

Tsarukyan has fought just once since his short-notice withdrawal from his fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311. After withdrawing due to injury just hours before UFC 311, Tsarukyan returned to the win column by submitting Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar last year.

Many fans and pundits continue to question why the UFC is hesitant to commit to Tsarukyan earning the next lightweight title shot, but Gaethje understands the apprehension.

Justin Gaethje: Arman Tsarukyan ‘made his bed' in last-minute UFC 311 withdrawal

In a recent appearance on the MightyCast podcast, Gaethje was asked about Tsarukyan's long wait for another title shot and whether or not the UFC is justified in postponing it.

“He's also been doing so much to not fight for the title,†Gaethje said of Tsarukyan's title pursuit.

“Come on, we all make our own bed. He was going to fight Islam Makhachev for the belt, and he dropped out the night before.†(h/t MMA Junkie)

Tsarukyan and Ruffy will square off in a potential No. 1 contender fight later this month at UFC 331. If Tsarukyan is victorious, his long wait for Gaethje and the lightweight title could continue.

What is your prediction for the potential Justin Gaethje vs. Arman Tsarukyan fight? Share your thoughts in the comments!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


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MMA

Morning Report: Eddie Hearn again denies Dana White’s involvement in Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua

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Morning Report: Eddie Hearn again denies Dana White’s involvement in Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua is ACTUALLY HAPPENING on Dec. 11 and while the Eddie-Dana beef has taken up plenty of oxygen, we're still about to see two of the best and most popular heavyweights of this generation finally throw down.

So I'm curious, with the bout less than two months away, how hyped are we for Fury vs. Joshua? Is it too little too late or is this the perfect time for two legends who have done it all to settle their beef?

What's your excitement level right now?

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Merab Dvalishvili calls himself a decision machine before Yan trilogy

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Merab Dvalishvili calls himself a 'decision machine' before Yan trilogy
Merab
Dvalishvili can joke about his low finishing rate in the

Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Dvalishvili is scheduled to challenge Petr Yan for
the bantamweight title in a trilogy bout at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. When a fan
recently asked him to predict the outcome, the former champion
jokingly suggested another decision victory.

Merab Dvalishvili jokes about his decision-heavy record ahead
of Petr Yan title fight at UFC 333

Dvalishvili is known for his relentless pressure and wrestling,
with 16 of his 21 career victories coming by decision. The Georgian
has recorded two finishes in the UFC: a technical knockout of
Marlon
Moraes in 2021 and a submission of Sean
O’Malley in his second title defense last year.

Asked how he would beat Yan, Dvalishvili described himself as a
“decision machine.â€

“There are three ways to win: knockout, submission, or decision,â€
Dvalishvili said in a brief
interview. “I’m a decision machine.â€

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10 UFC wins, zero finishes: Movsar Evloev defends his fighting style

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10 UFC wins, zero finishes: Movsar Evloev defends his fighting style
Movsar
Evloev rejects the notion that fans only want bloody
fights.

Evloev is scheduled to challenge Alexander
Volkanovski for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The Russian
challenger has won all 10 of his UFC bouts by decision but believes
fans appreciate his fighting style.

Movsar Evloev argues wrestling can entertain UFC fans ahead of
Volkanovski title fight

The recent departures of Michael
Page and Farid
Basharat have fueled debate about whether winning is enough to
secure a new UFC contract. Neither fighter was re-signed despite a
winning streak, though a lack of finishes has not been established
as the reason for either departure.

Evloev believes finishes are not the only measure of a fighter's
value. He says fans also appreciate tactics, skill and
wrestling.

“I have zero finishes in UFC, but I'm still in the UFC and I'm
fighting for the title,†Evloev told MMA Fighting. “That means only
finishes are not important. To show a good fight is also important.
If you have no finish, you can still show a good fight, an exciting
fight; you can show the beauty of wrestling. There are not just
fans of MMA who just wait for blood. There are so many good fans
who know MMA, and they understand, and maybe because of them I'm
still in the UFC.â€

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