UFC CEO Dana White expressed clear dissatisfaction with lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan during the UFC 326 post-fight press conference, highlighting ongoing off-octagon issues and leaving the fighter's next bouts uncertain amid his recent brawl at a freestyle event.
In the latest development in Arman Tsarukyan's string of controversies—as covered in prior reports—the No. 1-ranked UFC lightweight has drawn direct criticism from UFC CEO Dana White. Speaking at the UFC 326 post-fight press conference on March 8, 2026, White addressed Tsarukyan's involvement in a brawl at Real American Freestyle (RAF) following a grappling match.
'I don’t love it, but that night was someone else’s problem and not mine. The division is heading up, and there are a lot of fun fights to make, and we’ll get Arman figured out,' White said. Pressed on potential matchups Tsarukyan discussed with UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell—including Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Alexander Volkanovski—White replied, 'I don’t know. I’m not thrilled with Arman right now, and there are a lot of different reasons—it’s not just the things you see publicly. I understand there was a lot of back and forth between [Arman and Georgio Poullas], but where there is smoke, there is fire. And Arman has been smoking a lot lately. So, yeah.'
White's remarks allude to Tsarukyan's history of incidents, including his withdrawal from UFC 311, punching a fan at UFC 300, and head-butting Dan Hooker before UFC Qatar, which have clouded his path to a title shot.
Tsarukyan remains active outside the UFC, with a grappling match in Brazil this week and a rematch against Georgio Poullas in April. His octagon return appears on hold as the promotion assesses his situation.
