Arman Tsarukyan is predicting revenge for Khamzat Chimaev after Saturday’s event in Newark.
The UFC lightweight star was in Chimaev’s corner for his first defense of the middleweight title at the Prudential Center.
In the main event of UFC 328, Chimaev was beaten by Sean Strickland, marking the end of his brief reign and adding a first defeat to his professional mixed martial arts record.
Most signs have pointed toward ‘Borz’ now leaving the division, but Tsarukyan is evidently not so sure.
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Arman Tsarukyan backs Khamzat Chimaev to win his belt back after UFC 328
During his press conference after UFC 328, Dana White revealed a conversation with Chimaev that he had inside the cage immediately after the main event concluded.
The UFC president said the now-former champ had reiterated his desire to move up to light heavyweight.
That comes after Chimaev’s depleted state at the weigh-ins, which sparked concern about the condition he’d be in on fight night.
But in a recent social media post, Tsarukyan countered White’s claim by backing his frequent training partner to win back the middleweight title from Strickland.
“We fought our hearts out tonight and everyone watching knows what really happened,” Tsarukyan wrote on Instagram. “Head up Champ. You will get your belt back soon 💪🐺”
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A rematch does not appear to be on the mind of the newly crowned champion — at least not one with Chimaev.
During Paramount’s post-fight show, Strickland pointed to former rival Nassourdine Imavov as his likely first challenger after UFC 328.
The Frenchman has gone unbeaten across six fights since a light heavyweight loss to Strickland in a short-notice 2023 main event.
He most recently defeated Caio Borralho in Paris to make it back-to-back main event wins.