Arman Tsarukyan is once again in the spotlight after comments from his coach about his strained relationship with the UFC. Despite his strong performances inside the Octagon, questions remain about his future title chances. His coach believes the issue is not about popularity or fan numbers, but about communication with the promotion’s top management.
The timing of this discussion is important. Tsarukyan recently earned a key win and has now returned to the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. At the same time, other fighters like Charles Oliveira have climbed higher after impressive victories. This has reshaped the competitive landscape in the lightweight division.
Tsarukyan’s position is improving again, but the off-cage issues could still slow his progress toward a title shot.
Gor Azizyan advises Arman Tsarukyan to have direct talks with UFC management
Gor Azizyan, who leads Gor MMA and coaches Arman Tsarukyan, shared his views in an interview. He explained that in professional fighting, maintaining a good relationship with the organization is very important. According to him, if he were managing Tsarukyan, he would focus on resolving the issue directly with UFC officials rather than trying to grow popularity online.
Speaking to
Telecomasianet, Azizyan suggested that Tsarukyan should sit down with the UFC leadership and have a clear conversation to understand the root of the problem. He pointed out that simply increasing followers or public attention would not change the promotion’s stance. In his view, the UFC operates at such a powerful level now that external popularity has little influence on its decisions. What matters more is mutual understanding and trust between the fighter and the organization.
Tsarukyan himself has previously said that he does not fully understand what caused the tension. This confusion makes the situation more complicated. However, his coach believes that direct communication could clear misunderstandings. It could also improve the relationship quickly.
Inside the Octagon, Tsarukyan’s latest fight came in November 2025 at UFC Fight Night 265. He defeated Dan Hooker with a second-round submission. That win improved his record to 23 victories and just three losses, showing his consistency at the top level.
Meanwhile, the latest rankings update has given him a small boost. Tsarukyan is now ranked number 15 in the pound-for-pound list. Oliveira’s recent win helped him move up to number 11, swapping positions with Dricus du Plessis.