Demetrious Johnson, a seasoned competitor with championship titles in both UFC and ONE Championship, recently spoke highly of Arman Tsarukyan as a potential world champion. Known as ‘Mighty Mouse,’ Johnson remains active in training despite his absence from recent fights and was spotted working out alongside the rising UFC lightweight contender Tsarukyan.
Although Tsarukyan has not yet secured a title shot and struggled in his UFC 311 opportunity, Johnson praised his abilities following their sparring sessions, emphasizing Tsarukyan’s athleticism, adaptability, and endurance.
“Super athletic, super strong and very good at adapting. He would do something, then he will start to adapt to it. Well conditioned, he never gets tired and he’s always willing to ask, always a student of the game.”
Johnson also highlighted Tsarukyan’s value as a training partner, especially considering the size difference between them.
“I was even more impressed by how good of a training partner he is with the size difference…just a great f***** training partner.”
The former flyweight champion further noted that Tsarukyan’s style and training approach could allow for a long career with minimal physical damage, a key factor in achieving sustained success.
If he’s able to train like that with multiple people, he will have a long career of taking less damage. There is a point in time to start sparring hard, but I feel like he’s a person who could probably go through his career training like that and become a world champion.
Alexander Volkanovski Comments on Tsarukyan’s Potential Move to Featherweight
While Tsarukyan continues to seek a lightweight title shot, he has expressed interest in possibly moving down a weight class. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who recently retained his title against Diego Lopes at UFC 325, responded with openness to facing Tsarukyan in this division.
Volkanovski acknowledged the depth of competition in featherweight and welcomed the challenge of a fighter like Tsarukyan, though he was uncertain if Tsarukyan could successfully make the cut or immediately contend for the title.
“It’d be good to have a guy like him. Obviously, we’ve got a stacked division. To have someone like Arman in it would be incredible. Whether he can make the cut, I’m not sure. I mean, he’s not too big, maybe he could.”
He also highlighted the existing contenders ahead in line for a title opportunity, suggesting Tsarukyan would face tough competition before reaching the top contender spot.
“But yeah, whether he gets to come in and jump straight to the front of the line, I don’t know about that. You’ve got your Movsars [Evloev] and [Lerone] Murphys, who are probably going to fight. I think it’s going to be clear who’s next. But it’d be very exciting, obviously a tough challenge for any of us in our division.”
Tsarukyan’s Prospects and What Lies Ahead
Despite missing out on a lightweight title shot, Arman Tsarukyan remains a highly regarded fighter within the UFC. With endorsements from veterans like Demetrious Johnson and interest from current champions such as Alexander Volkanovski, Tsarukyan’s credentials as a top contender continue to grow.
His ability to adapt quickly, maintain stamina, and minimize damage during training could play a vital role in extending his career and maximizing his championship potential. Whether he remains in lightweight or drops to featherweight, Tsarukyan is positioned to challenge the division’s elite in the near future, signaling a promising path toward becoming a world champion.
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