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Justin Gaethje isn’t buying Arman Tsarukyan’s back injury story from his nixed 2025 title fight.

Tsarukyan was scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight gold at UFC 311, but things went awry hours prior to the weigh-ins. Tsarukyan was removed from the card after what he claimed to be a back injury. He was replaced by Renato Moicano, who was submitted in the first round.

The situation ultimately led to Tsarukyan being in the doghouse with UFC CEO Dana White saying that the top 155-pound contender also caused problems behind the scenes. White has been less critical of Tsarukyan recently, but Gaethje still isn’t sold on the injury claim.

Speaking to UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson, Gaethje shared why he thinks Tsarukyan truly pulled out of his planned title fight against Makhachev.

“The truth is, he wasn’t gonna make weight, so he dropped out. If it was his back and there was a medical report on paper with the UFC, then he wouldn’t be suffering like this,” Gaethje said.

Gaethje also believes that Tsarukyan may have sensed that his body was failing him before fight night, and he had an exit plan.

“I’m totally speculating, but there’s no way that if he was to truly hurt his back cutting weight, how the [expletive] do you do that, for one? Maybe his body was shutting down and he just couldn’t make weight, which happens.”

“The Highlight” even theorized a possible last-minute negotiation tactic gone horribly wrong.

“Maybe he was like, ‘My body’s shutting down and I’m not gonna make weight, but if you were to pay me more money then I would push through this and I would make weight,’ and if someone ever did that, then I could see them never getting a championship fight.”

Tsarukyan has a big fight against Mauricio Ruffy scheduled for UFC 331 on Sept. 19. Tsarukyan’s team is of the belief that a win will lead to a title shot. Gaethje is the reigning lightweight champion, but he will be out of action until 2027.

Do you agree with Justin Gaethje’s stance on Arman Tsarukyan’s blown 2025 title shot? Join in on the conversation in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM