The potential Chandler Tsarukyan fight isn’t just another callout—it’s a former Bellator champion who’s been through the UFC grinder, knows exactly where he stands. At 38 years old, Chandler’s watching the lightweight title picture evolve without him, and he’s making a calculated move to stay relevant.
What’s often overlooked here is the timing. Chandler’s been waiting on Conor McGregor for what feels like an eternity, and that fight still hasn’t materialized. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan just put on a clinic against Charles Oliveira, positioning himself as the next legitimate threat to Islam Makhachev’s throne. This callout isn’t desperation — it’s recognition that the lightweight division is moving forward, and Chandler needs to move with it or get left behind.
Why Chandler Tsarukyan Actually Makes Sense
The obvious take is that Chandler’s chasing relevance by calling out the hottest name at 155 pounds. But here’s the reality: this fight represents a genuine stylistic clash that tells us something important about the current state of lightweight wrestling. Chandler built his career on explosive power wrestling — the kind that changes fights in seconds. Tsarukyan represents the new generation of technical, pressure-heavy grapplers who control rather than explode.
That’s the thing about this matchup — it’s not just another lightweight bout. It’s a test of whether old-school explosive athleticism can still compete with the modern technical approach that’s dominated the division since Khabib Nurmagomedov changed the blueprint. Makhachev perfected it. Tsarukyan’s refining it. And Chandler? He’s representing the last generation of fighters who believed in moments over minutes.
The Wrestling Equation That Decides Everything
Chandler’s wrestling has always been about timing and power. He waits for the moment, explodes into position, and either finishes or gets back to striking. It’s high-risk, high-reward grappling that’s given us some of the most exciting moments in lightweight history. Remember his first UFC fight against Dan Hooker? That’s Chandler’s wrestling identity — spectacular when it works, vulnerable when it doesn’t.
Tsarukyan wrestles like he’s got all night. Constant pressure, chain wrestling, positional dominance that wears opponents down mentally before it breaks them physically. He doesn’t need the spectacular moment because he’s building toward inevitable control. Against Oliveira, we saw exactly how suffocating that approach can be, even against the most dangerous submission artists.
The Complicating Factor Nobody’s Discussing
What makes Chandler Tsarukyan fascinating is that both guys are right-handed orthodox fighters with a wrestling base, but they couldn’t be more different in their application. Chandler’s at his best when he can dictate the pace with striking, then use wrestling as the surprise element. Tsarukyan’s at his best when he’s making you think about the takedown every second you’re standing, then using that threat to land strikes you never see coming.
The reality is that Chandler’s facing a style he’s struggled with before. His losses to Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier showed what happens when he can’t impose his explosive moments on elite competition. And here’s what I’ll admit — I might be underestimating how much Chandler’s evolved since those fights. His performance against Poirier in their rematch showed he had made adjustments. But Tsarukyan represents an even more refined version of the pressure wrestling that’s given Chandler problems.
How This Impacts the Title Picture
With Islam Makhachev sitting at the top and an interim title fight looming, Chandler Tsarukyan becomes more than just a contender eliminator. It’s a statement about what style of fighter can challenge for the belt next. If Chandler wins, it breathes life into the idea that explosive veterans can still compete with the technical grapplers dominating 155 pounds. If Tsarukyan wins, it confirms what we’ve been seeing for years — the Dagestani pressure-wrestling system has fundamentally changed what it takes to compete at the top of this division.
Makhachev’s reign has been about proving that Khabib’s approach wasn’t a singular talent — it’s a teachable, repeatable system. Tsarukyan beating Chandler would add another data point to that argument. Chandler’s win would force us to reconsider whether the system has weaknesses that explosive, experienced fighters can exploit.
My Bold Prediction: Tsarukyan Wins, But Not How You Think
Here’s where I’m planting my flag: Tsarukyan wins this fight, but not through grinding wrestling domination. I think Chandler’s prepared for the wrestling war, comes in with a game plan to stuff takedowns and force striking exchanges, and actually succeeds early. But Tsarukyan’s striking defense and counter-wrestling are underrated. I’m predicting Tsarukyan by TKO in the third round after Chandler exhausts himself trying to land the explosive moment that never comes.
Where This Prediction Could Go Wrong
Here’s where I’m planting my flag on Chandler Tsarukyan: Arman wins this fight, but not through grinding wrestling domination. I could be completely wrong about Chandler’s gas tank. If he’s made conditioning improvements and can maintain his explosive power into the championship rounds, his experience advantage becomes massive. Tsarukyan’s never faced someone with Chandler’s combination of power, wrestling, and veteran savvy. If Chandler can make this a dogfight instead of a technical chess match, the explosive moments start to favor him.
The other factor I’m potentially underestimating is Chandler’s motivation. A fighter who’s been waiting on a McGregor payday, watching his window close, might show up with a desperation we haven’t seen from him before. Desperate Chandler is dangerous Chandler.
What Happens Next
Regardless of the outcome, this fight matters for the lightweight division’s future. We’re watching the transition from one era of 155-pound fighting to another, and matchups like this define those transitions. Chandler represents the explosive, moment-based approach that dominated MMA for years. Tsarukyan represents the technical, pressure-heavy system that’s taken over.
The winner doesn’t just move up the rankings — they validate an entire approach to lightweight fighting. And that’s what makes this callout more than just another fighter looking for a big name. It’s a style clash that tells us where the division is heading and whether the old guard still has anything left to say about it.
As we’ve been covering at Ringside Report, the lightweight division is in the middle of a technical revolution, and fights like this are the proving grounds. Chandler’s betting he can still compete with the new generation. Tsarukyan’s betting that the evolution is already complete. One of them is right, and the answer matters more than just their individual careers.
