Arman Tsarukyan firmly believes that the UFC is deliberately keeping Benoit Saint-Denis out of his reach, and for good reason.
As the clear No. 1 contender in the lightweight division, Tsarukyan (with an impressive record of 23 wins and 3 losses in MMA, and 10 wins to just 2 losses in the UFC) is baffled by the organization’s decision not to grant him a title shot despite his recent victory over Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 265, where he showcased his skills with an impressive submission win.
When asked if he thinks the UFC might set him up against another emerging contender, Tsarukyan addressed the situation concerning Saint-Denis. The latter (who boasts a record of 16 wins and 3 losses in MMA, and 8 wins and 3 losses in the UFC) is set to fight Hooker again in a co-headlining event at UFC 325 on January 31 in Sydney. However, Tsarukyan remains skeptical about facing Saint-Denis next.
"Benoit has a fight coming up. They know that I’m going to beat everybody," Tsarukyan explained during an interview with Complex News. "So why would they pit me against him? They don't want to jeopardize his career."
Saint-Denis has managed to bounce back from two tough losses against prominent fighters like Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano with subsequent victories over opponents Kyle Prepolec, Mauricio Ruffy, and most recently, Beneil Dariush at UFC 322. Yet, Tsarukyan is still not convinced of Saint-Denis's capabilities as a top-tier fighter.
He remarked, “They threw him right into the ring with Poirier, and Poirier defeated him decisively. How can they consider matching me with him? Benedoit has even lost to Moicano. It's absurd! He’s unlikely to ever break into the top five. He has faced top opponents and lost, and Dariush is simply past his prime."
But here's where it gets controversial: Tsarukyan's comments raise questions about how the UFC values its rising talents versus established fighters. Is the promotion playing it safe by keeping contenders like Tsarukyan away from potentially risky matchups? What do you think? Is this a smart strategy to protect fighters, or does it hinder their growth in the sport? Share your thoughts in the comments!
