Arman Tsarukyan vs. Charles Oliveira: Who should face Justin Gaethje next?
Both Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira are gunning for a crack at Justin Gaethje and his UFC lightweight title, but only one of them deserves the title fight more.
Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira are the two most obvious choices for Justin Gaethje's first title defense as UFC lightweight champion. While both men have cases for being named 'The Highlight's' title challenger, only one of them truly deserves to fight Gaethje next.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Charles Oliveira: Examining their merits
It was back in early 2025 when Arman Tsarukyan first entered the lightweight title picture. He was set to face the division's then champion, Islam Makhachev, at UFC 311 in a highly anticipated rematch of their UFC Fight Night 149 encounter from 2019. Unfortunately, Tsarukyan withdrew from the bout at the last minute, blaming a back injury sustained during the final stretch of his weight cut. This soured his standing with the UFC, and he has only fought once since then, submitting Dan Hooker in round two at UFC Fight Night 265. While he has been adamant about regaining his position as the number one contender, he has done little to redeem himself in the UFC's eyes.
This axe kick from Arman Tsarukyan is wild 😱 #UFC300 pic.twitter.com/HVPqpgFFQA
He has spent less time fighting and more time engaged in social media and streaming hijinks, which has increased his popularity with fans, but hasn't done anything to sway Dana White and the promotion's top brass. To stay in relative fighting shape, he has taken part in numerous wrestling matches under the RAF banner, where he has become a star. His misfortune, though, is that he has been inactive as an MMA fighter. He is currently on a five-fight win streak, including a win over former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who he beat via split-decision at UFC 300 two years ago. By contrast, 'do Bronx' has fought four times since that loss and may have a better case than Tsarukyan.
Oliveira is on a two-fight win streak and is also the reigning BMF champion, having dethroned ex-featherweight kingpin Max Holloway in a dominant unanimous decision win at UFC 326. Before that, he had beaten Mateusz Gamrot via second-round submission at UFC Fight Night 261. Not only has he been more active than Tsarukyan, but his two wins are significantly better than Tsarukyan beating Hooker, who is on a two-fight losing streak and is no championship level fighter. Furthermore, Holloway, who Oliveira dominated, is the fighter who most recently defeated Gaethje, knocking him out cold in spectacular fashion in round five at UFC 300.
Charles Oliveira took down Max Holloway in the first 30 seconds of the fight 😳 #UFC326pic.twitter.com/C2OMsrKO5a
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 8, 2026
Additionally, Oliveira himself has a win over Gaethje, who he submitted within three minutes at UFC 274. A rematch would serve the UFC well, as they can book it as a unification of the BMF and lightweight titles, and persuading Gaethje with a crack at revenge shouldn't prove too difficult for the promotion.
