Arman Tsarukyan doesn’t think his next fight will be for the lightweight title.

Tsarukyan has been announced as the backup fighter for the lightweight title fight at the White House between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. Although Tsarukyan is the backup fighter, that doesn’t mean he will get the next title shot; instead, he believes his next opponent could be a rematch against Charles Oliveira.

“My next fight is the title fight, which is probably in September in L.A.,” Tsarukyan said on his YouTube channel (h/t MMAJunkie). “But I’m a backup for the White House, too, if someone pulls out or gets hurt. … I may fight him (Oliveira) again.”

Tsarukyan and Oliveira fought back in April of 2024 at UFC 300, and it was Tsarukyan who edged out a split decision. It was a very close and competitive fight, where Oliveira nearly choked out Tsarukyan, so a rematch does make sense.

If the winner of Topuria vs. Gaethje needs time off, or if Topuria moves up to welterweight for the Islam Makhachev fight, then perhaps Tsarukyan vs. Oliveira 2 could be for the vacant belt.

Arman Tsarukayn expects to return in the fall

As for when Arman Tsarukyan may return to the Octagon, it could be some time.

Tsarukyan said he will wait for the White House card to happen first, and hints at a return to the Octagon in the fall.

“I’m waiting for the White House card when they are going to fight and then they are going to announce my next fight, probably September, October, or end of this year,” Tsarukyan said after RAF. “It depends who is going to win. If it’s Ilia, probably the end of this year. If it’s Gaethje, probably September-October.”

Arman Tsarukyan is 23-3 and last fought in November when he submitted Dan Hooker in the first round. He’s riding a five-fight winning streak and is 10-2 in the UFC. He has notable wins over Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, and Damir Ismagulov, among others.

Would you like to see Arman Tsarukyan vs. Charles Oliveira 2?