Justin Gaethje Says Arman Tsarukyan Would Be His Next Fight by Year’s End

In the UFC, the lightweight division is always exciting and stacked with big names and fights. Currently, the situation is the same, as champion Justin Gaethje has several big options for his title defense. While an Ilia Topuria rematch is something everyone wants to see, Arman Tsarukyan has dominated the division and beaten one opponent after another, making him an undeniable challenger. Meanwhile, talking about the same, Gaethje has also stated that he would fight Tsarukyan next if he fights for the title this year.

Justin Gaethje Names Arman Tsarukyan as His Next Fight

Gaethje said the Armenian's coming off a big win and a big finish, so it makes sense he's the one everybody's thinking about right now as the next contender. He added that if he were healthy enough to fight this year, that matchup would already be locked in for the end of the year.

In his words, “Arman just had a huge fight and a huge finish, so obviously he’s at the forefront of everybody’s mind, and he’s clearly the next contender. If I were able to fight this year, then we’d be fighting at the end of this year.”

For those who don't know, ‘The Batman’ currently has a six-fight winning streak, during which he has beaten big names like Charles Oliveira, Dan Hooker, and Mauricio Ruffy. He previously got a title shot against Islam Makhachev, but due to an injury, he pulled out of the fight at the last moment. Since then, he has been working his way up to earn that title shot again, and it seems like it’s right at his door now.

This isn't the first time Gaethje has brought up a possible fight with Tsarukyan. He's said before that even though there are bigger names he could go after, Tsarukyan has earned his spot, and if he does come back to fight for the belt, Tsarukyan will be the one standing across from him.

Justin Gaethje Is Unsure About His Fighting Future

As per the champion, he still hasn't made up his mind about retirement. He said it's never been about the money for him, it's about his health. For now, Gaethje plans to enjoy being champion for the rest of the year and figure out the business and life decision whenever the time feels right.

At 37, with 40 fights between his amateur and pro career behind him, Gaethje has been open about worrying over his long-term health. After beating Ilia Topuria back in June, he feels like he's got nothing left to prove. He's already ruled out fighting again in 2026, and there's still no clear timeline on when he'll decide.