Arman Tsarukyan has gotten his wish.
The controversial lightweight fighter has been everywhere over the past five months except the UFC Octagon. He’s grappled at events from Moscow to Armenia to Brazil and America. He’s grown his social media following multiple times. And now he’ll be the backup fighter for the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje lightweight unification title fight at the UFC White House.
Tsarukyan had previously spoken about his hope of being on call for the historic event, but it was only last night (Thu. May 7, 2026) that UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Arman’s position.
“Arman is the backup for the White House fight,” White told Nina Drama on a stream. “If anything happens to that fight, Arman is in there. So … there you go.”
Tsarukyan can’t seem to go anywhere without there being some craziness afoot. He’s been in the UFC doghouse for a while over punching a fan at UFC 300, flaming out of a title fight at the last minute, and headbutting Dan Hooker and breaking his nose the day before their main event. Even his grappling appearances have featured brawls and bizarre behavior, like when he launched Urijah Faber off a wrestling platform onto the concrete floor.
But the numbers don’t lie: Arman is a hot property on account of these shenanigans and White finally gave him his due rather than criticism.
“The run that he’s been on has been impressive,” White said. “That’s what you do. When you end up sideways and you do some dumb s–t, get out there and make people want to see you. And he has definitely done that. That’s a fact.”
His reward: a potential step-in fight at the White House. As for his own guaranteed fight? It could be a while. It seems like Tsarukyan is dead set on fighting for the title next, which would happen maybe four months after June. And then what happens if Topuria moves up to welterweight to fight Islam Makhachev? More waiting and / or another interim?
In the meantime, you can catch Tsarukyan at Real American Freestyle cards. “Ahalkalakets” will wrestle Mugzy (Keelon Jimison on May 30th and then Tony Ferguson on June 13th … if the June 14th White House card doesn’t take him out of that particular match-up.