Arman Tsarukyan is among those who are skeptical that Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor are ever going to square off in the Octagon. Tsarukyan called out Chandler following his third-round technical knockout victory against Joaquim Silva in the UFC on ESPN 47 co-main event on Saturday night. The 26-year-old Russian has been victorious in seven of eight UFC appearances since falling to reigning lightweight king Islam Makhachev in his promotional debut.
“If you want to ask me, for sure I want to fight with Michael Chandler,” Tsarukyan said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “Because it looks like his fight with Conor McGregor is over. He got to fight with someone, and I am here. I have good win streak and let’s do this fight, because I’m the youngest guy in top 15. He’s the older one. I think for fans it’s good when new generation fights with older generation.”
Chandler and McGregor are opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter 31,” which is currently airing on ESPN. The two lighweight stars are supposed to fight at the conclusion of the reality show, though a date for that pairing has not been announced. Multiple hurdles could prevent the bout from taking place, including McGregor’s delayed entry into the USADA drug testing pool and more recently, rape allegations stemming from the Irish star’s appearance at an NBA Finals game in Miami.
Tsarukyan also pointed to McGregor’s lifestyle, which at least according to his social media, doesn’t seem to be focused on training. “I saw what McGregor’s doing,” Tsarukyan said. “He’s like relaxing on his yacht, like drink alcohol, goes to the beach, smoke weed. I train with the crazy guys. I live in the gym, train three, two times a day. He’s not going to fight.”
If a Chandler matchup doesn’t come to fruition, Tsarukyan also has his eyes on a potential showdown with Beneil Dariush, who is coming off a loss to Charles Oliveira in the UFC 289 co-main event. “If Dariush can fight in Abu Dhabi in October, I definitely want to fight with him,” Tsarukyan said. “If not, and you know me, I’m going to fight everybody, but [I want] somebody from the top five — Chandler, Dariush, whatever. But I think a fight with Dariush makes sense.”