Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson thinks the UFC Lightweight Division has a real problem.
It is a very interesting time to be a UFC light weight. Earlier this week, UFC champion Islam Makhachev handed over his belt for a switch to Welterweight against Jack della Maddalena.
Fighting for the vacant title of Makhachev will not be anyone but the unbeaten Ilia Topuria and former champion Charles Oliveira on UFC 317 on 28 June.
In a division full of contenders such as Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway, UFC Legend Rampage Jackson drives a dark horse to become the next lightweight champion after Topuria vs. Oliveira.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Rampage Jackson claims that Arman Tsarukyan is the next champion of the UFC
The 22-3 Arman Tsarukyan became the #1 rank light in the world at the Milestone UFC 300 event around this time last year when he defeated Charles Oliveira by a split decision.
Tsarukyan, against the most productive submission artist in the UFC history and was heavily praised for his heart and determination after surviving four of Oliveira's submission attempts.
Tsarukyan has been 9-1 since he dropped his UFC debut to Makhachev in the short term. After losing a lightweight title shot this year due to an injury, the #1 candidate wants to fight against Justin Gaethje, in addition to prove that he is worth a new chance.
“With all due respect for Gaethje, I think Arman is the next champion,” said former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jackson on the Jaxxon Podcast.
“He's hungry, man …
“Look at that boy. You see it in his eyes. He is hungry,” Jackson said about Tsarukyan.
Active Training did not fight Tsarukyan in 13 months with his last performance against Oliveira at UFC 300 and recently rejected a 'disrespectful' offer of the UFC to combat a lower ranked competitor.
Rampage Jackson expects Arman Tsarukyan to get frustrations from the next opponent
After four consecutive victories at Lightweight, Tsarukyan was offered a title brake match with Makhachev on UFC 302, the same night he defeated Oliveira at UFC 300. He then refused the fight for six weeks of cancellation and he had just gone three rounds with 'Do Bronx'.
Instead, Makhachev would fight against Poirier on UFC 302 last summer, where Tsarukyan had to wait until January on his first world title fight at UFC 311.
The day before the event, Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw due to a painful back injury and was replaced by Renato Moicano in the headliner. After-fighting, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Tsarukyan should fight again if he wanted a title shot.
“Hopefully this will feed his hunger even more,” said ex-GUC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw about the current position of Tsarukyan.
“It's going to make him a little angry,” Jackson replied.
“The one who then steps with him in that cage, I feel they are getting the S – beating them apart,” said the former light heavyweight champion of Tsarukyan.