• Arman Tsarukyan says the UFC will avoid matching him with Benoit Saint‑Denis to protect the French fighter’s career.
  • Tsarukyan points to Saint‑Denis’ past losses to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano as reasons he isn’t a true top‑five threat.
  • Saint‑Denis is booked against Dan Hooker at UFC 325 in Sydney; Tsarukyan expects other matchups instead of a showdown.

Tsarukyan says UFC will keep Saint‑Denis away

Top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan told Complex News he expects the UFC to steer Benoit Saint‑Denis clear of him. Tsarukyan, 23‑3 overall and 10‑2 in the UFC, argued the promotion won’t risk pairing him with the Frenchman because he believes he would “ruin” Saint‑Denis’ career.

What Tsarukyan said

In the interview, Tsarukyan said, “Benoit has a fight coming up. They know that I’m going to beat everybody … they don’t want to give me Saint‑Denis because they don’t want to ruin his career.” The fighter referenced his recent dominant submission win over Dan Hooker as proof he’s ready for top competition.

Benoit Saint‑Denis’ form and recent wins

Benoit Saint‑Denis (16‑3 MMA, 8‑3 UFC) has rebounded from tough losses to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano with a string of wins. That stretch includes finishes of Kyle Prepolec, Mauricio Ruffy and a notable victory over Beneil Dariush at UFC 322.

Despite those wins, Tsarukyan dismissed Saint‑Denis’ résumé, noting the losses to Poirier and Moicano and saying the Frenchman has not beaten many top‑level opponents.

Scheduled fight: Saint‑Denis vs. Hooker

Saint‑Denis is scheduled to face Dan Hooker in the UFC 325 co‑headline on Jan. 31 in Sydney. Tsarukyan suggested the UFC will match him with other rising contenders rather than put him in a matchup that, in his view, would prematurely derail Saint‑Denis’ career.

What this means for the lightweight picture

Tsarukyan is widely seen as a top contender after his recent performances, but he says the promotion is avoiding an immediate title shot. His comments underscore a larger debate in the division about matchmaking: whether the UFC should protect certain prospects or push contenders into high‑risk fights.

Watch the interview

Tsarukyan’s comments came during an interview with Complex News. Watch the clip below:

Tsarukyan’s bold claims add heat to an already competitive lightweight division and set expectations for whom the promotion might protect or test next. The broader question remains whether the UFC will prioritize fighter development or immediate style‑based matchmaking as title hopes form.

Image Referance: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/arman-tsarukyan-ufc-wouldnt-risk-004020504.html