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Arman Tsarukyan is once again a backup fighter for a UFC lightweight title fight, and he's got mixed feelings about it.
Tsarukyan, considered to be the No. 1 contender at 155 pounds, finds himself once again the odd man out in the UFC lightweight title picture. Tsarukyan will be serving as a backup fighter for the unification title fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, which is set to go down in the main event of UFC Freedom Fights 250 at the White House on June 14.
"It's confirmed, but I haven't signed contract yet," Tsarukyan told Jaxxon Podcast in reaction to Dana White naming him the official backup.
Tsarukyan had this same role last June, as he served as a backup for the vacant lightweight title fight between Topuria and Charles Oliveira. Although he's always up for a shot at the belt, he admits these aren't the ideal circumstances to accomplish his dream of being champion.
"I'm excited; if something happens, they call me," Tsarukyan said. "I'm the first guy, who's going to jump in, and I'm getting ready for that. I'm already on my diet. It always sucks to be backup, but I have to do this, you know?"
It's already tough to prepare for one elite-level opponent, let alone two. However, Tsarukyan is not stressing about the idea of getting either Topuria or Gaethje last minute.
"They're pretty same, they don't wrestle, right?" Tsarukyan said. "They strike, right? If one guy was a wrestler and one guy was a striker, yeah, you have to bring two sparring partners – one striker, one wrestler. I just need a striker because they're not going to shoot and try to take you down."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Tsarukyan: 'It always sucks' to be backup for UFC title fight
Continue reading...
Tsarukyan, considered to be the No. 1 contender at 155 pounds, finds himself once again the odd man out in the UFC lightweight title picture. Tsarukyan will be serving as a backup fighter for the unification title fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, which is set to go down in the main event of UFC Freedom Fights 250 at the White House on June 14.
"It's confirmed, but I haven't signed contract yet," Tsarukyan told Jaxxon Podcast in reaction to Dana White naming him the official backup.
Tsarukyan had this same role last June, as he served as a backup for the vacant lightweight title fight between Topuria and Charles Oliveira. Although he's always up for a shot at the belt, he admits these aren't the ideal circumstances to accomplish his dream of being champion.
"I'm excited; if something happens, they call me," Tsarukyan said. "I'm the first guy, who's going to jump in, and I'm getting ready for that. I'm already on my diet. It always sucks to be backup, but I have to do this, you know?"
It's already tough to prepare for one elite-level opponent, let alone two. However, Tsarukyan is not stressing about the idea of getting either Topuria or Gaethje last minute.
"They're pretty same, they don't wrestle, right?" Tsarukyan said. "They strike, right? If one guy was a wrestler and one guy was a striker, yeah, you have to bring two sparring partners – one striker, one wrestler. I just need a striker because they're not going to shoot and try to take you down."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Tsarukyan: 'It always sucks' to be backup for UFC title fight
Continue reading...
