UFC CEO Dana White announced that Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan would join the UFC 300 lineup, with the winner set to face the pound-for-pound kind Islam Makhachev.
The lightweight division is in a complex spot now, especially in terms of who would fight Makhachev. The promotion had an original plan to put the champ against Oliveira in a rematch, but Tsarukyan entered the title conversation after winning a remarkable KO over Beneil Dariush at UFC on ESPN 52. However, the Russian quickly stressed his lack of interest in any rematch (as he had faced both fighters before) and shared preference for Justin Gaethje over Oliveira and Tsarukyan.
Unfortunately for the champ, the promotion seems determined to make him take the rematch. With this, White announced Sunday that the winner of the Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan will be the No. 1 contender for the champ.
IM BAAAAAAACK!!!
Two more fight announcements 👊🏻👊🏻#UFC299 5-round co-main, Poirier vs Saint-Denis#UFC300 Number one contender fight, Oliveira vs Tsarukyan pic.twitter.com/aSPZtGEnAT
— danawhite (@danawhite) January 8, 2024
This is a huge change from the company’s former plan after promising Oliveira the title shot. For Tsarukyan, on the other hand, it is good news. Prior to the announcement, the Armenian-Russian demanded a challenge to Oliveira to “figure out who is No. 1” and who deserves the spot against Makhachev.
Oliveira and Tsarukyan are set to enter the cage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 13. The pair joins other bouts already confirmed by the UFC, including Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandar Rakic, Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling, and Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage.
