Tsarukyan Sets Conditions for UFC White House Backup Role

Arman Tsarukyan has been designated as the backup fighter for the UFC White House main event featuring Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. Tsarukyan has outlined specific conditions for his role, indicating he will only participate in the weigh-in if a fight is officially confirmed approximately one week before the event on Sunday, June 14th. This approach diverges from the traditional practice where backup fighters typically cut weight in advance during fight week to be ready for potential last-minute changes.

Tsarukyan's hesitation may be influenced by his experience in January 2025, when he had to withdraw from a lightweight title bout against Islam Makhachev due to complications from a difficult weight cut. His current stance suggests a preference for a confirmed fight offer well in advance to manage his weight cut effectively, a notable departure from standard backup fighter expectations.

The UFC event in White House is scheduled for Sunday, June 14th. Tsarukyan's conditional availability could be seen as a less conventional approach for a backup, given the frequency of last-minute fight changes due to weight issues or other unforeseen circumstances. However, the event's significant scale and the fighters' known resilience might mitigate concerns.