At UFC 311 on January 18, Arman Tsarukyan will finally get the chance to avenge his 2019 loss to Islam Makhachev when the two meet in the main event for the lightweight title.

When the two first met at UFC Russia, Tsarukyan was answering a late notice call to make his UFC debut on just a few weeks notice. Even to the point that he was cutting weight during his wedding for the fight.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Arman Tsarukyan claims he will be done with ‘legacy fights’ following UFC 311

Ahead of the biggest fight of his career thus far, ‘Ahalkalakets’ has claimed that during his UFC tenure so far, he has been building his legacy and his main event against Makhachev could be the culmination of that.

The 28-year-old has only suffered two losses during his 11-fight UFC tenure, one of which was a controversial loss to Mateusz Gamrot. During that time, the Armenian has scored wins over some huge names in the division, including Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush.

Tsarukyan has stated that if he defeats Makhachev at UFC 311, he will be ‘done with the sport’ and will only fight in big money fights as he believes his legacy will be complete.

This comes after he recently admitted that he hasn’t been 100% committed to MMA throughout his career and he will show on Saturday night if a fighter who is not 100% committed can win the title.

“My goal is to get the belt and then from there, I’m just gonna think about business because what I wanted, to be a world champion right now,” Tsarukyan said on the Pound 4 Pound Podcast.

“I just focus on Islam and when I win the title (I’m done with) the sport, I’m gonna start just business (fights) and I’m gonna pick (fights) against who the UFC pays me more, I’m gonna fight,” he continued.

The lightweight division is one of the most competitive divisions in the sport, so whichever fight presents itself to Tsarukyan next, whether he is the champion or not, would likely be a ‘big money fight’.

“It’s gonna be business things, not just the sport. Right now it’s legacy to be a champion after that, then business, after this fight when I’m champion I’m just gonna think about money,” he admitted.

Arman Tsarukyan wants a rematch against Charles Oliveira next

This past April, the 28-year-old beat ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira at the blockbuster UFC 300 event but unfortunately, some fans believe it was a controversial decision.

With that marking his fourth win in a row, he earned the lightweight title shot. The Armenian has admitted that if he dethrones the Russian on Saturday night, he wants a rematch against the Brazilian, which would surely be a big money fight.

“After I’ve won the title I would like to fight against Oliveira. This is the only guy that deserves to fight for the title and he is the most dangerous guy.

“I feel like right now, it’s me, Islam, and Oliveira, the three of us are the best fighters right now… People say it was a close fight and this and that, I just want to go and crush him,” he stated.