• Arman Tsarukyan says the UFC will avoid matching him with Benoit Saint-Denis.
  • Tsarukyan calls Saint-Denis unproven against top competition despite recent wins.
  • Saint-Denis is scheduled to co-headline UFC 325 against Dan Hooker on Jan. 31 in Sydney.
  • Tsarukyan remains the No. 1 contender after a submission win over Dan Hooker.

H2: Tsarukyan predicts UFC will steer clear of Saint-Denis

Arman Tsarukyan, the UFC lightweight No. 1 contender, told Complex News he expects the promotion to keep Benoit Saint-Denis away from him. Tsarukyan, who improved to 23-3 (10-2 UFC) with a submission win over Dan Hooker in November, said matching him with Saint-Denis would be a risk the UFC would not take.

“Benoit has a fight coming up. They know that I’m going to beat everybody,” Tsarukyan said. “…They don’t want to give me Saint-Denis because they don’t want to ruin his career.”

H3: Where Saint-Denis stands

Benoit Saint-Denis (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) is riding a multi-fight rebound after consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano. He bounced back with finishes over Kyle Prepolec, Mauricio Ruffy, and a recent win against Beneil Dariush at UFC 322. Saint-Denis is set to co-headline UFC 325 against Dan Hooker on Jan. 31 in Sydney.

Despite that streak, Tsarukyan questioned Saint-Denis’ résumé against top-tier opponents. “He’s never going to be in the top five. He lost to Poirier, he lost to Moicano, he never beat top fighters,” Tsarukyan said, adding that Dariush is “too old.”

H3: Tsarukyan’s path and the title picture

Tsarukyan has argued he shouldn’t have to wait for a title shot after dispatching Hooker. Still, the UFC appears to be pacing contenders and matchmaking around other rising names. Tsarukyan acknowledged the promotion could pair him with other rising contenders, but he doubts Saint-Denis will be one of them.

H4: Fight context — UFC 325 and hooks to future matchups

Saint-Denis vs. Hooker is the UFC 325 co-headliner in Sydney. If Saint-Denis wins, it could further solidify his place among the contenders — though Tsarukyan remains skeptical. Promoters often weigh marketability, fighter development, and risk when scheduling matchups, and Tsarukyan clearly believes the UFC views Saint-Denis as a protected asset.

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H5: What to watch next

Watch Saint-Denis in Sydney on Jan. 31 and follow Tsarukyan for potential opponent announcements. The lightweight division is in flux, and how the UFC matches its top names will shape the title race. Both fighters’ next outings will influence whether a future Tsarukyan–Saint-Denis bout becomes realistic or remains the sort of matchup the promotion avoids.

This article is based on Tsarukyan’s remarks to Complex News and fight records reported ahead of UFC 325. Original reporting referenced: MMA Junkie and Yahoo Sports.

Image Referance: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/arman-tsarukyan-ufc-wouldnt-risk-004020504.html