Dana White is warming up to Arman Tsarukyan.
It wasn’t too long ago when UFC CEO White said he’s not thrilled with Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), which prompted confusion out of the lightweight contender.
Advertisement
The 29-year-old has remained active by winning numerous grappling matches, while also constantly promoting himself through skits with Nina Drama and appearances on popular streamers’ channels.
“I like what Arman’s been doing,” White said during a live stream with Adin Ross. “He’s kept himself active, getting himself out there. Hanging out with Nina doesn’t hurt, either. She f*cking kills it. I don’t know. We’ll see. After each event plays out – this event has to play out on Saturday – then everything sort of changes and you start looking at what the possibilities are for fights coming up the rest of the year. We’ll see what happens with Arman. Arman needs to not be a maniac when he shows up to the event. I like Arman.”
Tsarukyan continues having to wait for his shot at the title after withdrawing from his opportunity just a day before UFC 311. He has only competed once in the octagon once ever since – a first-round submission of Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 265 this past November.
“I’m in Vegas one night and I pull out of the Wynn and I’m at the red light getting ready to pull out and someone is f*cking screaming at me and there’s a Rolls Royce next to me and it’s f*cking Arman in a Rolls Royce,” White said. “He’s a fascinating dude and obviously a bad motherf*cker.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dana White supports Arman Tsarukyan’s activity outside the UFC
