Arman Tsarukyan to serve as UFC Freedom 250 title fight backup
Arman Tsarukyan will be on standby for the UFC's White House card.
NEWARK, N. J. – Arman Tsarukyan will be waiting in the wings, perhaps even the West Wing, in case something happens to either UFC Freedom 250 headliner that would force them out of the bout.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed during a promotional press conference Friday at Prudential Center that Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is the official backup fighter for the June 14 main event between lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and challenger Justin Gaethje . The event takes place at the White House ahead of the United States' 250th celebration. Tsarukyan, 29, has not competed since a November domination of Dan Hooker that extended his winning streak to five.
Despite not having any MMA fights on the books, Tsarukyan has remained active, competing frequently for Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling. His only UFC losses have come against Islam Makhachev and Mateusz Gamrot. Neither Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) nor Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) had much of a reaction to news of Tsarukyan being positioned as a standby.
"Me personally, I don't care who I'm going to have in front (of me)," Topuria said. "June 14, I'm going to break his jaw in the first minute, whether it's Arman or Justin. " This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Arman Tsarukyan to serve as UFC Freedom 250 title fight backup