Arman Tsarukyan turns down Movsar Evloev's featherweight invite to stay at lightweight

The lightweight number one contender expects his title shot early next year, in February or March, and says he wants to be “the best ever lightweight fighter”.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Thu 22 Oct, 05:53 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Arman Tsarukyan has turned down Movsar Evloev's invitation to move down to featherweight, saying he will stay at lightweight now that he expects to fight for the title next.

Evloev, who faces Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title in the main event of UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, said at the UFC 333 media day that featherweight was “my territory” and told Tsarukyan: “Make 145lbs and we’ll fight.”

Tsarukyan told MMA Fighting that a move down only made sense without a title shot at 155lbs. “If they wouldn’t give me a title in 155 I would go down, but as I heard I’m gonna fight for a title next, so I’m gonna be on my division and stay there,” he said. “I don’t want to move anywhere because I feel like lightweight is the perfect weight class for me, and I want to be the best ever lightweight fighter and I may break all records there.”

He said he expects that title fight at the beginning of next year, in the first quarter, February or March.

Tsarukyan has teased a move to featherweight for more than a year and has had trouble making the 155lb limit in the past. Before any of that, he faces Dillon Danis in the main event of Real American Freestyle Wrestling 14 in Las Vegas on Friday.

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Arman Tsarukyan Movsar Evloev