Arman Tsarukyan on Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria: 'I can fight both of them. Same night'

Tsarukyan told MMA Junkie he will 'most likely' fight Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title next if the champion fights on, but is not certain 'because it's not my company'.

Arman Tsarukyan says he could fight both Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria on the same night if lightweight champion Justin Gaethje retires.

Asked by MMA Junkie's Farah Hannoun who he would face if Gaethje retires, Pimblett or Topuria, Tsarukyan said: "I can fight both of them. Same night."

Tsarukyan was asked whether he was 100% confident that he fights Gaethje for the belt next if Gaethje fights again. "Most likely, yes," he said. Asked why he was not completely sure, he said: "Because it's not my company."

On whether Gaethje will retire, Tsarukyan said: "I don't know. So I got to talk to him, see him, and know. But still, he didn't retire yet." Asked what his gut told him, he said: "He might retire."

Gaethje finished Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June to win the undisputed lightweight title, and suggested straight afterwards that it could be his last fight. His teammate Drew Dober has said Gaethje is back in the gym, and has put his money on Gaethje against Tsarukyan sometime next year. Tsarukyan has said the UFC told him he would get an answer at the end of November.

Topuria, who is considering a return from April, has named Tsarukyan as a possible opponent, saying that if it is not Gaethje or Pimblett, it has to be him. He has also said Tsarukyan would be "pure panic" in a fight between them.

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